- 5 weeks ago
Founded in 2019 by veteran model Amber Tolliver, Liberté is a premium lingerie brand centered around thoughtfully constructed garments and undergarments. Liberté strives to inspire confidence by elevating everyday essentials to feel special and empowering, while not sacrificing on comfort and support.
Blending the time-honored crafts(wo)manship of early lingerie seamstresses, with cutting edge natural and high performance tech fabrics, Liberté is a modern lingerie brand for the modern woman, while also placing importance on the human touch and personalization that is so often lost in undergarment tailoring today.
Designed in New York from the finest Italian fabrics, and produced by highly skilled lingerie artisans internationally.
Blending the time-honored crafts(wo)manship of early lingerie seamstresses, with cutting edge natural and high performance tech fabrics, Liberté is a modern lingerie brand for the modern woman, while also placing importance on the human touch and personalization that is so often lost in undergarment tailoring today.
Designed in New York from the finest Italian fabrics, and produced by highly skilled lingerie artisans internationally.
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00Hello, hello, and welcome back to Shop Essence Live in partnership with New Voices Family.
00:05I am your host, Noni Donovan, and Shop Essence Live, we always bring you things to upgrade your life.
00:12We upgrade your skin. We upgrade your hair.
00:16Now, it is time to upgrade our pandemic panties, okay?
00:22I am definitely guilty of this.
00:24We resort to what is comfortable, and we fall into that trap, but taking care of ourselves sometimes is also making sure that our garments are looking nice, even if it's underneath your clothing, to show that special someone.
00:38So, we are going to be joined by Amber Tolliver of Liberty.
00:42Amber!
00:44Hey, hey.
00:48Welcome to the show.
00:51So, hi.
00:52Welcome, welcome to the show.
00:54I am so excited about this, because you, your line is just so, it's just so luxury.
01:02It's such a step up, probably from what most of us are wearing right now, myself included.
01:08So, thank you, thank you so much.
01:10I'd love to hear about how you created this amazing lingerie line.
01:15Well, I have been in the fashion industry for over 20 years, and I had spent over a decade in the lingerie space, working with countless brands, and what I realized is that no one was really taking the time to bridge the gap between style, function, and size inclusivity.
01:38And, you know, for me, it just, it didn't make me happy.
01:42It didn't make me feel good whenever I had to go and purchase new underwear or a new bra.
01:47And my background in fashion had me endeavor to start my own brand and to launch a company that did make sure to prioritize style as well as function and make it inclusive with the sizing.
02:02I love that, and you don't know too, too many Black-owned lingerie brands.
02:08So, that being inclusive, being size inclusive, and there's no sacrifice of quality and style the bigger the sizes get, which I think is really, really important as well.
02:18So, I want to get into it.
02:20I am a modest girl, but I'm giving you guys a little bit here.
02:24I have on one of them right here.
02:27And it's just, it's such great quality.
02:30So, I'd love for you to talk through the different pieces that you have, and we'll do a little show and tell.
02:36Absolutely.
02:37So, you have the Bowery Plunge on, and that is meant to be quite low in the center so that you can wear it under tank tops, v-necks.
02:46And it's not your typical, you know, larger cut bra that comes all the way up to your clavicles and covers half your chest.
02:54And you're like, okay, I'm not there yet in my style evolution.
03:00And so, that is, as you said, that's the Bowery, sorry, the Bowery Plunge.
03:06And so, this is what it looks like, off body.
03:14And what I really wanted to do is allow women's bodies to speak for themselves.
03:19And this idea of having pads and push-ups and, like, I don't need any extra help.
03:25I didn't want to enhance women.
03:28I wanted to essentially just adorn them with beautiful garments that made them feel incredible.
03:36And so, for me, one of the biggest things that had me endeavor to launch Liberté is that I was tired of women feeling like they weren't a part of the club,
03:47the Cool Girl Club, where Victoria's Secret, not to name names, was all about this idea of wanting to be very exclusive.
03:58And I wanted to be inclusive.
04:00And that meant allowing women to show up in their own skin feeling good about how they were in their own skin.
04:07Oh, I absolutely love that, right?
04:11So, it's not a cover-up.
04:13It's not a morphing to change.
04:15It's just a celebration of exactly where you are and who you are.
04:20So, so nice.
04:21And I love this sheer detail here.
04:23It's almost like a little design element.
04:25So, if you did have a low-cut shirt on and it shows a little bit, it's just, like, it's fashion.
04:31Yeah, it's meant to complement the outfit.
04:34So, even if someone did happen to see your bra, you can incorporate it as a part of your outfit,
04:40or you can, you know, have it just be your undergarment, but you won't be bashful or ashamed if anyone does see it.
04:48So, you know, it works.
04:50It works on both fronts.
04:52I love, and I feel very secure.
04:55We have the underwire on the bra that's not uncomfortable at all, not cutting into the skin, which is very important.
05:03So, one of the biggest things that bother me as a woman who needs an underwire bra is the underwire itself.
05:13You can't cheap out on the underwire.
05:15And so many brands do.
05:17And so, for me, I had every underwire custom made.
05:22It is oval in shape so that the edges don't cut into your body, but it also has a really incredible flex.
05:31So, you can, like, your body moves and your underwire should move with you, right?
05:36And it shouldn't fight you.
05:38It should naturally move with your body, flex and expand so you can flex forward and back or, you know, side.
05:45So, it moves with you, it will rock with you from morning till night, and it'll allow you to feel supported without feeling confined, which was number one goal for me.
05:57And really, you just wanted to make sure that, again, the function matched the same level of style so that women weren't having to sacrifice one for the other.
06:08So, good.
06:12Okay.
06:12So, you also have some other types.
06:14I am putting up a promo code.
06:16Amber also has a promo code for you guys, which is Essence15 for 15% off.
06:22So, make sure that you guys are checking that out.
06:24Yes.
06:25You also have the Liberté Lace Demi, which is by far, I would say, my favorite going out bra, although it's a fantastic everyday bra, period.
06:38It comes in three colors.
06:41You have the midnight, this is the black, and then the blush.
06:46And as you mentioned, the idea is to have every bra be the same, and meaning the same style.
06:58So, if you're going from a 32C, which is a fairly small garment, to a 38H, exactly, you're going to have what looks like the same exact garment.
07:12However, what you won't notice, unless it's broken down, is that the inner workings of the bra are different.
07:21They are made to match what each woman needs, specifically for her body type, right?
07:27So, a larger cup, they're going to need a little bit more reinforcement on the inner workings of the bra to make sure that the shape doesn't distort or, you know, get weird or pointy.
07:42I wanted women to feel like they were being brought front and center and also supported.
07:49So, not only do you have the same look and feel, you technically have the same strap, but in different sizes.
07:59I don't know if you guys can see this.
08:00As you graduate in size, you graduate in the width of the strap.
08:07So, what the width on the 34D is smaller than the 38H.
08:13The same goes for the back closure.
08:17So, there are three different component sizes.
08:19And so, you've got small for the smaller girls.
08:25And then, you add size for the larger girls so that everyone feels like they're getting the support that they need based on their size.
08:36So great.
08:36I thought that was really, really, really important just to make sure that, again, there was consistency throughout the sizes.
08:44The larger sizes weren't getting, you know, the short end of the stick or to be the afterthought.
08:50And, specifically, I started the fit process with the larger sizes as the priority because so often they're left as the last afterthought.
09:01And, you know, they're just like, oh, it'll kind of fit.
09:04And it's like, that's not sufficient.
09:06You know, I know that as I get older and, you know, everyone's boobs change.
09:13You know, you shift sizes, you get bigger, you get smaller, you get different, whatever it is.
09:19I wanted to support women throughout their entire journey and make sure that it wasn't just specifically for one section of their life.
09:29And, you know, just make them feel like, oh, well, you know, that was for a time and a place.
09:35Like, no, Liberté is here to give you the freedom to feel supported throughout your entire journey as a woman.
09:42And that's what I'm endeavoring to continue.
09:46We will be launching new styles soon.
09:50And each and every style has that same level of dedication, that same level of commitment.
09:56And, yeah, I just really I'm here to support women literally and figuratively through their journey.
10:04Oh, I love that.
10:06And we love intentional design at Shop Business Live.
10:09And you have so much intention with all the sizes.
10:12If you can just tell us what it what's the range of sizes from the smallest to the largest that you have available.
10:18Yeah. So we go from 32C to 38H in 2024.
10:25We will be expanding the size range to include 40 band as well as B cuts and extra small to double XL for panties.
10:36Very nice. And speaking of panties, let's get into showcasing these gorgeous, gorgeous undies.
10:46All right. So which one are you going to highlight first?
10:48To complement the bra that we just saw, the lace demi, I have the Bowery Lace Hipster, which is so nice.
11:01The scallop detail on the back is really meant to lay beautifully on the hips.
11:07Beautiful.
11:07It gives you this idea of just this light, easy, comfortable feel.
11:17So it gives you that comfort that everyone's looking for.
11:21You talked about pandemic panties.
11:24Oh, gosh. Yep.
11:26The concept of like everyone wants to be comfortable.
11:28Well, yeah, me too.
11:29I want everyone to be comfortable.
11:31But just comfort doesn't mean that it has to look like it's from circa 1982 and it's been brought up from the depths of somebody's back closet.
11:48Oh, I mean, look, before I before I was guilty of it, my friend has been guilty of it.
11:54And even even though she knows like I'm here, I'm here to help you.
11:58I can help supply a better option.
12:01And yeah, I just I firmly believe that lingerie is the first thing you put on in the morning.
12:08It's the last thing you take off at night.
12:10And I do not believe it is for other people.
12:13I believe it is firstly for yourself.
12:16I believe that setting the tone for the day is of the utmost importance,
12:21because if you are setting the tone with granny panties, then that's, you know, you're kind of like not you're not living your best life.
12:30You're you're not you're not treating yourself with the same love and attention that you go forward into the day with.
12:40So why not set the tone with yourself first?
12:43You know, I'm not a firm believer that like self-love should be just for you.
12:50Self-love is so that you can take that abundance, that that level of care, that abundance of love and just excess goodness and take that forward.
13:02Right. Like you're not just supposed to keep that to yourself.
13:05You feed yourself so that you can feed others.
13:07You take care of yourself so that you can care for others.
13:10But why so often do women skip the first step in the morning and not care for themselves and not take an extra just smidge of a moment to say, hey, I love my body.
13:22I love how I look in this.
13:25Let me start the day off on this foot and then carry that forward.
13:30Women do such incredible things.
13:32And I just wonder what they would do if they prioritize themselves, not in a selfish manner where the whole day is dedicated to me, but like moments that bring joy, moments that the small daily pleasures that allow you to feel excited and joyful and content with a situation.
13:52And so I think that is by far what I'm hoping to achieve.
13:59Amber came to drop the gems today.
14:03Okay.
14:03Can I just tell you?
14:05And that completely blew me away because I was totally in the mindset of, oh, for that significant other.
14:14But you are completely right.
14:15How we begin our day, even I am so prescriptive of even like how I'm what my alarm clock sounds like most of the time I don't use an alarm because I don't like to be scared out of my sleep.
14:27But taking it a step further, what's the first thing that you put on your body every day and the last thing that you take off and like what is it that you want to feel when you put that on and that carries you through the day?
14:38That's just so beautiful.
14:39So we have to reward ourselves.
14:41And we know as women, as women of color, we're carrying so much all the time.
14:47And there's like a level of like, we don't want to feel like guilty or selfish or anything like that.
14:53But you are so right.
14:54It is the more you take care of yourself, the more your cup is filling over that you have to give to other people.
14:59So, so good.
15:02Gems drop.
15:03Okay.
15:04You have more undies.
15:05I do have more undies.
15:08Okay.
15:09Right.
15:10For those who do not want to hipster, but are more of a thong girl, we've got the Bowery mesh thong, which is my answer to the, the dreaded VPL.
15:25So on the back, the, the visible panty line.
15:29Oh, okay.
15:31So if you've got tight pants lying.
15:32So just, just so we're clear, also the hipster does not show through even the tightest of anything.
15:39It does not, it does not show in the back.
15:42So no one's going to know what you're wearing.
15:43But if you do prefer thongs, that is, it's got a folded over a mesh in the back so that you don't have a, um, an elastic line.
15:54The elastic is what gives you the visible panty line.
15:57So there is no elastic along the back that is completely smooth.
16:01Therefore, you will not have any visible panty lines and you can tight pants, tight anything or, or not loose jeans.
16:10Apparently that's now the new trend, um, um, and, and just be super comfortable in how you're able to present yourself.
16:19And I, for anyone who is intimidated or scared by lace, like I have been, this lace is very stretchy.
16:29Like it's very stretchy.
16:31It's very comfortable.
16:31Even the sides that are here.
16:33If you look at, look at the amount of stretch on this thing.
16:38So this is, this is very comfortable lace that you can wear for sure.
16:44It is.
16:44This is not your, your rigid mesh lace where, you know, you tug on it once and it rips in seven places.
16:51I don't have time for that type of lace.
16:54Um, I'm a New Yorker.
16:55I rip and run from the moment.
16:57Yes.
16:58Oh, um, yes.
17:00The, the, the, the lace has quite a bit of stretch in it.
17:04You are not going to have any issues here.
17:08Um, and it, I, I picked it because of its feel it's super soft and therefore it's not only going to stretch.
17:16It's going to be cozy and comfortable and, and, and rock with you.
17:21Like you are in New York or wherever you are.
17:23I love, love, love, love.
17:26I want to remind everyone when you buy at shop essence side, if you're buying directly from these black owned brands, Liberty has a great promotion here.
17:35If you're watching on essence.com, we're going to be flying up the links to these products.
17:39You can shop right here.
17:40You're watching on Pinterest.
17:41We'll have the products pin there for you guys to shop right here.
17:44Um, and don't forget to use the essence 15 promo code.
17:49Amber, Amber, I feel like this is a, this is a turning, this is a changing point.
17:54Good.
17:55Good.
17:56We're going to take care of ourselves from the jump.
18:00And that means the first thing that we put on our bodies, we're feeling good about ourselves, not for the gaze of others, but for the gaze of ourselves.
18:07Look, it can absolutely be for the gaze of others, but it needs to be first for you so that you're comfortable, which by far, I, I keep telling women the sexiest thing about a woman is confidence.
18:22So if you're not comfortable in something, I just, I don't set up the confidence level.
18:29And then everything else from there is, is easy.
18:31We love it.
18:33Okay.
18:34So you are also a member of the new voices family.
18:37So I'd love to hear from you.
18:39What has been a great benefit to being a part of that community?
18:42Absolutely.
18:43I am over the moon, uh, about being a part of this cohort.
18:49It's a lonely road to be a solo founder and the entrepreneurial journey is, is not only terrifying, but it's a lonely road.
19:00And so to be a part of a cohort of, of women that are also walking this path, who are also taking this, this journey and step for themselves, for their future, for generational wealth, whatever their motivations are, everyone's walking this path.
19:17And it is, it's a blessing to not feel alone in that journey and in, in that choice to, to bet on yourself and to take the risk of launching your own business, to trying to, you know, get it off the ground and grow it to scale into what you've always dreamt it to be.
19:35And so it's, it's incredible to not only have the community because it really does take a village, but additionally, it allows for you to ask questions and to experiment and test things out in a safe space.
19:50And, and, and, and in a, in a space where the repercussions are not going to be live, they're not, you know, you can test things out in, in, within the space and feel good about asking questions that you're uncertain about and, and getting answers from people who have the experience, who have walked that path, who have walked others down that path, uh, to success.
20:15And it, and it, and it feels really, really good.
20:18So, so good.
20:20So I have to remind you guys, bet on yourselves.
20:23You might be home, you might be watching this and it's just like, I have a business, but I'm nowhere near where she is and you need some extra guidance.
20:30What you need to do is go to newvoicesfamily.com, go there, you join the organization, join the community.
20:37It is completely free.
20:39You have access to mentorship, seminars, cohorts, just like, uh, Amber and Ella are in, um, where you learn a ton, a ton of amazing priceless information.
20:50And it's all free y'all it's free 99.
20:54Um, so make sure that you guys go and check that out.
20:56If you or somebody that, you know, uh, has a business, is an entrepreneur.
21:03So Amber, this has been so great.
21:05So can I just tell you guys, you need to, if, if you're watching this again, really great gift, great gift for yourself, um, but also a really great gift for someone else.
21:16So make sure that you guys go and you check that out.
21:20Um, anything else, Amber, you want to tell them your website and where they can get, follow you.
21:25Absolutely.
21:26So you can follow us on Instagram.
21:28Uh, the handle is at Liberty.
21:31Uh, you can also shop at www.liberte.co that's L I B E R T E.co.
21:38And I'm also excited to announce that we will be coming out with lounge wear.
21:43We have a signature candle that is currently up for sale for holiday.
21:47And this idea of gifting for other people and for yourself, we're, we're creating a holistic experience for you to be able to, um, start setting the tone for your day in a holistic way.
22:00So I'm, I'm really excited about that.
22:02Come on.
22:03And then we're getting lounge wear too.
22:05Okay.
22:06Lounge wear, robes, pajamas.
22:09It's all coming in 2024.
22:11All right.
22:12So Amber is going to take care of all of us.
22:14Make sure that you guys go and follow her so that you can see anything new that they're coming up with.
22:18But when I tell you everything that we showed you today is such beautiful quality, we'll have you feeling beautiful as soon as you start your day.
22:26And a reminder of how beautiful you are at the end of the day.
22:29That was so, so great.
22:31Um, Amber, thank you so much for being on this week's episode.
22:35Guys, thank you so much for tuning in to shop essence live.
22:38Remember when you buy here, you are buying directly with these black owned brands and tune in every single week for more.
22:44Shop essence live.
22:46Thank you so much.
22:49Thanks Amber.
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