2007 French TV Show about Pantyhose for Men by Gerbe

English Translation by Michel

SOURCES:

The dialog is from here: http://youtu.be/3EZ6OjH1TvU
 
Similar show with the same topic: http://youtu.be/3jnaUDy9_ys 
 

How Gerbe Started a Line of Pantyhose for Men

men drain up 40 pantyhose by gerbe

Host : It’s 11:05 am, and 11:05 is scoop time. No, you are not dreaming, I won’t tell you the name of the mysterious character, the one that will allow you to win an invitation to Olivier Eltzer’s restaurant. I won’t even tell you a second clue. It will be some time later. No, no I have a real scoop. Are you ready to hear it? Men are at last equal to women. I know it’s quite provocative for a scoop, but it’s indeed the case. We, men, we can, from now on, wear pantyhose and knee-high. Thanks to these ladies. Hello!

 

Lady 1 (in black dress): Hello!

 

Lady 2 (white jacket): Hello!

 

Host : Hello to Annie and Anne-Marie. You come to show us a product : pantyhose for men.

 

Lady outside frame (1 or 2): Indeed.

 

Host: Why pantyhose for men? Was there a demand?

 

Lady 1: Yes, there was. Since the opening of our website, we had daily requests from men to have a pantyhose designed especially for them. So, we have thought about it, and this year Gerbe decided to exert its savoir-faire to men.

 

Host: So it means, it’s not a marketing idea at first? It’s really the male customers who asked for it?

 

Lady 1: That’s right! It’s the demand of the market, and we have asked these men their help by asking them what kind of product they wanted.

 

Lady 2: They told us: “We want this. We usually buy pantyhose like those for our wives, but we would like a line especially for us”. Why would pantyhose only reserved to ladies? So, we took this like something not conformist. We thought: “It will stay very very marginal”. Then, in at a second thought, as we were facing the demand, we talked about it and we said: “Why not? We should start. There may be something to do in that domain.” And so, that why it started, and…

gerbe pantyhose for men talkshow 2 french 2007

two male models – one in footless hosiery and one in sheer hosiery

 

Lady 1: …since March 5th, we launched this line for men.

 

Host: So Annie, what is the assessment?

 

Lady 1: It’s very positive. It goes even beyond our expectations. It’s so positive that we will improve this range that presently consists of 4 pantyhose and knee-high, by adding 2 new pantyhose. So the “Drain Up 40” pantyhose…

 

Host: … that I am actually wearing right now, I dare to say. I will ask the camera to make a close caption. (To the camera operator) Come in. Come in. (To the audience) Strip-tease moment in this show. Look! I will not take off my pants. So, effectively, I am wearing these pantyhose.

 

Lady 1: …opaque, 40 deniers, draining and relaxing. I think you can…

 

Host: Effectively, I feel freshness at the bottom of my feet.

 

Lady 1: That’s right. It’s made on purpose.

 

Lady 2: It’s especially recommended for people who stand up or sat down for long periods of time.

 

Host: Cooks, for example?

 

Lady 2: Indeed, also barbers, or people who take planes, who sat down a long time in planes, on long trips, who feel pain in their legs, can wear that kind of product. And we already have feedback, given we already had this product for women and they were very happy about it.

 

Host: Is it a bit like compression stockings? I already knew compression stockings that can be purchased in pharmacies. It’s a bit similar.

gerbe pantyhose for men talkshow 3

Pantyhose for men have some modifications to the fit.

 

Lady 2: If you want, but a slight compression.

 

Lady 1: Preventive compression.

 

Lady 2: Preventive and it’s also for comfort. For well-being.

 

Lady 1: Draining and relaxing.

 

Lady 2: By the way, at the end of the show, you will tell me how good it is!

 

Host: All right. What are your arguments to sell pantyhose to a man? I imagine there’s a psychological barrier to break, right?

 

Lady 1: No, given it’s a demand from the market, so it’s very easy for us to respond.

 

Host: So what do they tell you?

 

Lady 1: There is a specific demand, given there are specific products. There are men who ask for very sheer products. So there are 2 styles.

 

Host: Precisely, Phatty is wearing them!

 

A male model, Phatty, shows up on screen.

 

Lady 1: That’s right!

 

Host: Precisely, that is a real revolution in the domain of male fashion, comparatively to classic styles every woman wears.

 

Lady 1: Correct. We had to do it, given we were asked for it.

 

Lady 2: I must add, it’s adapted to the male morphology.

 

Host: We’ll ask Phatty. (To Phatty) Is it comfortable?

 

Phatty: Yes it is. It’s quite fresh at the bottom. It’s refreshing. But it’s true that…

 

Lady 2: (To Phatty) It sure makes you pretty legs! (To the host) It can be worn with a bermuda. Given men asked for it could be worn with a bermuda. Or wear with a skirt or a dress, and I am speaking here absolutely seriously. Or, alternatively with pants, to feel a little bit warmer, to feel the fabric on the legs, to feel the elasthan on the legs, that applies a slight compression to the legs. (To Phatty) You must feel your legs encased in the pantyhose. (To the Host) And it’s true that we had very positive feedback, given it’s the style that tops the sales, and I must say, Annick, since the start of the commercialization, that is, since the beginning of March, we sold more than 1,000 pairs and all styles added, more than 1,500. It encourages us to continue, and to respond positively to the demand.

 

Lady 1: The demand now, is new fabrics and new colors, so it’s obvious we won’t stop now.

 

Host: Is the mentality evolving?

 

Lady 2: Absolutely! Mentality is evolving, and I find that just right. I must say that these pantyhose are adapted to the male morphology, so there’s a front opening that is well adapted to male morphology. (To Phatty) I don’t know what you think about it, Phatty.

 

Host: He looks happy.

 

Lady 2: He looks happy. Everything is all right. And I think he will be from now on a regular user of pantyhose.

men drain up 40 pantyhose by gerbe 2 opaque

Phatty: Yes indeed!

 

Lady 2: We will make the warm tights too.

 

Lady 1: Especially made for Winter. For cold sensitive men.

 

Host: We will invite you again in December.

 

Lady 2: These are tights made of silk Rhovyl (clothing fiber), that is very warm, that can be worn with a comfortable outfit, sport or ski outfit. Our male customers are free.

 

Host: Annick, Anne-Marie, thank you very much for having presented us this innovation.

 

Lady 2: It’s us who thank you.

 

Host: And myself, I keep my pantyhose on.

 

Lady 2: All right. No problem! That way, you will tell us again about it in December.

 

Host: Absolutely! Thank you, ladies!

gerbe pantyhose for men talkshow 4

Men in Gerbe pantyhose

 

Original text in French:

La marque Gerbe lance les collants pour hommes

Présentateur : Il est 11h05, et 11h05 c’est l’heure du scoop. Alors, non, ne rêvez pas, je ne vais pas vous donner le nom du personnage mystérieux, celui qui vous permettra de gagner une invitation au restaurant Olivier Eltzer. Je ne vais même pas vous donner un deuxième indice. Ce sera pour dans quelques instants. Non, non, j’ai un véritable scoop. Etes-vous prêts à l’entendre ? L’homme est enfin l’égal de la femme. Je sais que c’est un peu provoc comme scoop, mais c’est le cas, en effet. Nous autres les hommes, nous pouvons désormais porter des collants et des mi-bas, grâce à ces dames. Bonjour.

 

Dame 1 (robe noire) : Bonjour.

 

Dame 2 (veste blanche) : Bonjour.

 

Présentateur : Bonjour à Annie, bonjour à Anne-Marie. Vous venez nous présenter un produit : des collants pour hommes.

 

Dame hors écran : Effectivement.

 

Présentateur : Pourquoi des collants pour hommes ? Il y avait vraiment une demande ?

 

Dame 1 : Oui, on a depuis quelques mois, dès l’ouverture de notre site Internet, des demandes quotidiennes de la part de ces messieurs, pour avoir un collant qui leur soit spécialement réservé. Donc nous nous y sommes attentionnés, et cette année, Gerbe a décidé de dédier son savoir-faire à la gente masculine.

gerbe pantyhose for men talkshow 5

Photos of men in pantyhose by Gerbe

 

Présentateur : Donc, ce qui veut dire que ce n’était pas une idée marketing à la base, ce sont vraiment les clients qui vous ont réclamé ce produit ?

 

Dame 1 : Tout à fait ! C’est la demande du marché, et nous avons mis très largement tous ces messieurs à contribution en leur posant des questions quant au produit qu’ils souhaitaient vois se développer.

 

Dame 2 : Ils nous ont dit « On veut ça. On achète habituellement des collants comme pour nos femmes, mais on aimerait bien avoir une ligne spécialement pour nous. » Pourquoi le collant serait réservé uniquement aux femmes ?

Et voilà ! Donc on a pris ça d’une façon un peu marginale. On s’est dit : « Ca va rester très très marginal ». Puis après, devant l’afflux de la demande, on s’est concerté, et on s’est dit : « Et pourquoi pas ? Si on se lançait ? Il y a peut-être quelque chose à faire dans ce domaine. » Et voilà. L’aventure a commencé, et…

 

Dame 1 : …depuis le 5 Mars, nous avons lancé cette ligne homme.

 

Présentateur : Alors Annie, justement un petit bilan. ?

 

Dame 1 : Un bilan très positif, qui va même au-delà?de nos espérances. Tellement positif que nous allons étoffer cette gamme qui est composée actuellement de quatre modèles de collants et de mi-bas, de deux nouveaux modèles de collants. Donc, le collant « Drain Up 40 »

 

Présentateur : …que je porte sur moi, il faut bien le dire. On va demander à?la caméra de se rapprocher. (Au cameraman) Venez, venez ! (Au public)  Séquence strip-tease, un petit peu dans cette émission. Regardez. Alors je ne vais pas enlever mon pantalon. Effectivement, je porte ce collant.

 

Dame 1 : … opaque, 40 deniers, drainant et relaxant, qui soulage. Je pense que vous pouvez…

 

Présentateur : Justement, j’éprouve une sensation de fraicheur, en bas du pied.

 

Dame 1 : Absolument, c’est fait pour.

 

Dame 2 : Il est surtout recommandé pour les personnes qui sont en station debout prolongée ou assis très longtemps.

 

Présentateur : Les cuisiniers, par exemple ?

 

Dame 2 : Absolument. Les coiffeurs, les personnes qui prennent l’avion, qui sont assises très longtemps dans l’avion, lors de grands trajets et qui, effectivement, pour éviter la sensation de jambes lourdes, peuvent porter ce type de produit. Et nous avons déjà?des retours, puisque nous avions déjà?ce modèle pour femmes, et les clientes ont ont été très satisfaites.

 

Présentateur : Est-ce un peu comme les bas de contention ? Moi, je connaissais les bas de contention, qu’on achetait en pharmacie. C’est un peu le même système.

 

Dame 2 : Si vous voulez, de contention légère.

 

Dame 1 : …de prévention.

 

Dame 2 : de prévention, et c’est aussi un certain confort. Un bien-être.

 

Dame 1 : Drainant et relaxant.

 

Dame 2 : D’ailleurs, à?la fin de l’émission, vous m’en direz des nouvelles.

 

Présentateur : Très bien. Quels sont vos arguments pour vendre un collant à?un homme ? Moi, je pense qu’il y a une barrière psychologique à?franchir, non ?

 

Dame 1 : Non, puisque la demande vient du marché, donc c’est très facile pour nous d’y répondre.

 

Présentateur : Mais alors, qu’est-ce qu’ils vous disent ?

 

Dame 1 : Il y a une demande différente, puisqu’il y a différents produits. Il y a des messieurs qui demandent des produits relativement fins. Donc il y a deux modèles.

 

Présentateur : Justement, Phatty en porte.

 

Apparaà?t à?l’image un mannequin homme, Phatty…

gerbe pantyhose for men talkshow 6

Drain Up 40 den – popular style

 

Dame 1 : Voila.

 

Présentateur : Justement, à?a, c’est une vraie révolution dans le domaine de la mode masculine, par rapport au modèle classique que portent toutes les femmes.

 

Dame 1 : Voilà?. Il fallait le faire, puisqu’on nous l’a demandé.

 

Dame 2 : Mais qui est quand même, il faut le préciser, adapté à?la morphologie masculine.

 

Présentateur : On va demander à?Phatty. C’est confortable ?

 

Phatty : Oui, c’est assez frais. C’est frais en bas. Ca rafraichit. Mais c’est vrai que à?a….

 

Dame 2 : (A Phatty) Ah oui, à?a vous fait de belles jambes ! (au présentateur) On peut le porter avec un bermuda. Puisque ces messieurs l’ont demandé, pour porter avec un bermuda. Pour porter avec une jupe, une robe, et je suis en train de parler tout à?fait sérieusement. Ou encore, sous un pantalon, pour avoir un peu plus chaud, pour avoir une sensation de matière sur la jambe. Pour avoir aussi une sensation d’élasthanne qui fait une contention légère sur la jambe. (A Phatty) Vous devez sentir vos jambes qui sont bien tenues dans le collant. (Au présentateur) et c’est vrai qu’on a eu des retombées très positives, puisque c’est celui qui arrive en tête des ventes, et, il faut oser le dire, Annick : depuis le début que nous l’avons commercialisé, c’est-à?-dire, début Mars, nous en sommes déjà?à?plus de mille collants vendus, et en tout nous en somme à?mille cinq cent. Ca nous encourage quand même à?continuer, et à?répondre toujours présent à?la demande.

 

Dame 1 : La demande, maintenant, c’est des nouvelles matières, de nouveaux coloris, donc on voit effectivement qu’on ne s’arrêtera pas là?.

 

Présentateur : La mentalité évolue ?

 

Dame 2 : Absolument ! La mentalité évolue, et je trouve à?a très bien. On doit ajouter que ce collant est adapté à?la morphologie masculine, et vous avez une ouverture transversale qui est justement bien adaptée à?la morphologie masculine. (A Phatty) Je ne sais pas ce que vous en pensez, Phatty.

 

Présentateur : Il a l’air content.

 

Dame 2 : Il a l’air content. Tout va bien. Et je pense qu’il sera désormais un adepte du collant.

 

Phatty : Oui !

 

Dame 2 : Nous allons faire le collant chaud, aussi.

 

Dame 1 : Spécialement conà?u pour l’hiver. Pour les messieurs qui sont frileux.

 

Présentateur : On vous réinvitera au mois de Décembre.

 

Dame 2 : Absolument. Un collant qui est en Rhovyl soie, et qui est très très chaud et qui peut se porter soit en tenue confort, soit en tenue sportive, en combinaison de ski.  Ces messieurs sont libres.

gerbe pantyhose for men talkshow 1

There is a demand for men’s pantyhose.

 

Présentateur : Annick, Anne-Marie, merci beaucoup de nous avoir présenté cette innovation.

 

Dame 2 : C’est nous qui vous remercions.

 

Présentateur : Et moi, je garde mon collant.

 

Dame 2 : Tout à?fait. Pas de problèmes ! Justement, comme à?a, en Décembre, vous nous en direz, des nouvelles !

 

Présentateur : Absolument ! Merci, mesdames.

 

men drain up 40 knee high socks by gerbe

 

*I would like to thank Michel, a very kind reader, who surprised me with this translation.  I am so grateful for his help.*

 

*Friends, the only funding for this blog is from the shop section.  Please indulge your pantyhose obsession and show some support for my work!  Your purchases make this blog possible.*

 

Note: Gerbe pantyhose for men are no longer produced.

Run Resistant Hosiery

Some Styles of Run Resistant Hosiery are Available at the Shop Section!

This article is by T. Gallagher from USA, an industry expert and a person with great knowledge about different types of run resistant hosiery.  We express such gratitude to him for taking the time to write for Fantasy Stockings blog and share his knowledge.

buy run resistant hosiery for better performance

This is a package of Brooke’s run resistant pantyhose.

See if you can relate to this story. Its Monday morning, you hit the snooze on your alarm clock one too many times, and now you are running late for work. You are in a full blown frenzy desperately trying to get out the door. You rush to brush your teeth, shower, get dressed, do your hair, and get your makeup just right. You open a new package of your favorite pantyhose. You slip your feet in, gently slide the hose up your legs, tuck yourself in, only to realize that you have a huge run up the back of your leg.

Seriously, what business professional wants to be in the middle of a presentation and realize she has a glaring unsightly run up the side of her leg for all to see?  For that matter, who wants to be at an elegant dinner party or wedding and discover a snag has opened up into an unsightly hole or ladder? Ladders, rips, runs, and snags are often cited by women as the main reason they don’t wear or stopped wearing hosiery including pantyhose stockings and tights.

There is a solution: Run resistant hosiery technology. Run resistant hosiery technology does exist and has been around for decades. When manufactured correctly, hosiery that utilizes run-resistant technology is not only more durable it actually increases the appeal and experience of wearing hosiery. Run-resistant hosiery technology is relatively inexpensive to incorporate in the manufacturing process.

For years, the hosiery industry chose to shelve run-resistant technology. Hosiery manufacturers were slow to embrace and invest in new advances in sewing and textile equipment and processes.
They were content with the status quo and followed the short sighted logic that they would lose business and profit if they made hosiery that was durable. "Sell more to make more profit" was the prevailing thought process of most hosiery manufacturers. Instead of making a product that would last, they chose to make a product that was prone to fail. Had the manufacturers incorporated run resistant technology when it first became available, one could argue more women would still be wearing hosiery today.

buy run resistant hosiery

Run resistant technology for hosiery involves a two-step process.

The first step in producing run resistant hosiery involves changing how the fibers and threads forming the hosiery are stitched, machined, or woven together. In regular hosiery (prone to ladders, runs, rips, and snags) the fibers and threads are plain stitched together which is a looser weave or stitch process. In run-resistant hosiery, the weave or stitch is tightened up. Tightening the weave is referred to as the knotting process or lock stitching. In some hosiery, the knotting process or lock stitching is focused on key areas prone to runs including the waistband, panty, crotch, gusset, heel, toes, and the transition point between the panty and leg. In true run resistant hosiery, the knotting process or lock stitching is incorporated throughout the entire product from waistband to toe.

The second step in run-resistant hosiery involves blending the original nylon fiber with another synthetic or natural fiber. Some examples include acrylic, acetates, cotton, lycra/spandex, polyesters, polyethylene, polyurethane, and polyvinyl, rayon, silk, and wool fibers. The most common blend in hosiery is to combine nylon with lycra/spandex. By increasing the amount of lycra/spandex content, the more run-resistant the hosiery becomes. For example, a pair of pantyhose with a 80% nylon and 20% lycra/spandex blend is going to be more run resistant or more durable than a pair with a 90% nylon and 10% lycra/spandex blend. One drawback to incorporating more Lycra/Spandex into the blend is the denier or thickness of the hosiery increases. A true sheer pantyhose blend would have a 86% Nylon and 14% Lycra/Spandex content. Anything more would result in a heavier denier or thicker ‘tights like’ hosiery product.

buy run resistant hosiery for better performance

run resistant hosiery won’t snag easily

A shortcut would be to stop at the stitching process. However, the finished product would be rougher and uncomfortable to wear. Likewise, blending nylon with lycra/spandex fibers alone would still lead to ladders, rips, runs, and snags. To achieve wearable run-resistant hosiery both steps must be utilized.

 

An early example of a run resistant hosiery brand that I remember was the Brooke Shields Forever Sheer Non-Run Pantyhose. Brooke would sell her brand of hosiery on infomercials only. During her half hour commercial she would take knives, forks, staples, scissors, and other sharp objects to her hose and show they would not snag or run. The visual demonstrations were quite effective and consumer response was strong.

More recently, Microfiber technology has been incorporated in the manufacturing of hosiery as a way to increase run resistance. Microfiber technology is also a process of blending fibers. Microfibers are more commonly synthetic fibers although some natural fibers have been incorporated in the process. The shape, size and combinations of synthetic fibers are selected for specific characteristics, including: softness, durability, breathability, thermal regulating, and wicking properties. Microfiber is also very elastic, making it ideal for hosiery. Microfibers allow for stronger more durable hosiery at lower denier or thickness. Not only does microfiber technology enhance run-resistance… Microfiber technology increases overall comfort, durability, fit, and feel of hosiery. Have you ever felt hot or tend to perspire wearing hosiery? How about a binding sensation or itchy feeling from a pair of pantyhose? Ever have a pair of pantyhose or tights lose their shape, sag, or bunch up/wrinkle at the ankle? Thanks to the incorporation of microfibers into hosiery those problems can also be a thing of the past.

buy run resistant hosiery for better performance

Example of a hole in run resistant hosiery. This specific one is from Forte run resistant tights by Fiore.

High end manufacturers of hosiery in Europe were the first to incorporate run-resistant technology including the use of microfibers in their hosiery products. Brands like Wolford, Falke, Kunert, Gypsy, Gerbe, Filodoro, Elbeo, Cette, Pretty Polly, and Transparenze all have incorporated run resistant technology and the use of microfibers into their product lines. United States brands like Hanes, Berkshire, Just My Size, Leggs, No-Nonsense and Silkies were soon to follow. They all have released run-resistant hosiery in their product lines. Asian manufacturers have also started producing lines of run resistant hosiery.

One can only hope that hosiery manufacturers have learned from their mistakes of the past… opting for the wise choice to embrace improved processes and technology that lead to better products for their customers.

 

Have you tried or do you have a favorite brand of run resistant hosiery? Tell us about it and share your story below.

 

Vintage Youtube videos for Other Run Resistant Pantyhose

1990 Run Free Pantyhose commercial

K-tel “Perfect Pantyhose” commercial

*Friends, please check out the shop section, this is what funds this blog. At the moment Gatta and Fiore run resistant hosiery is available to buy.*