Nursing lingerie brand Hotmilk has scored a corporate coup, enlisting the former head of design for Bendon to its ranks.
Sue Dunmore has been appointed as the general manager of design, following more than a decade at one of the world’s leading intimate apparel companies. During her time at Bendon, Dunmore worked alongside former chief executive Stefan Preston to take its EMI brand to the US and European markets as well as secure the licence for Stella McCartney lingerie.
Dunmore was also pivotal in the development of Bendon Maternity and the Elle Macpherson Maternity program. She will work closely with Hotmilk founders Ange Crosbie and Lisa Ebbing to capitalise on the four-year-old brand’s recent export growth, servicing over 850 retail customers across 47 countries.
“We are all working together to move things along as quickly as possible,” she told Ragtrader two weeks into her new role. “I am working totally hand-in-hand with Ange and Lise to help them practically realise their vision for the company.”
This will include the introduction of a new nightwear offer for the next season, in addition to tested and researched moulded cups, spacer foams and flexi-wires. Prior to joining Bendon, Dunmore worked as a lingerie buyer for UK department store giant Marks and Spencer.
“This was probably the best training you could achieve to prepare for life within the ragtrade,” she said. “It exposed you to everything from design to merchandising, developing you into someone that could appreciate all aspects of the industry.”
Dunmore said further product and design advancements could be expected at Hotmilk in coming seasons.
Assia Benmedjdoub