As we meet to interview Pia and Dan Buck from “Bataillon Belette”, the violent winds of storm “Ignatz” are sweeping over the Frankfurt skyline. On the third floor of the stylish neo-renaissance building, there is little sense of the wild weather outside. The designer couple welcomes us to their studio on Schaumainkai, which also doubles up as their flat. It is a warm place, designed with real attention to detail. The space, which is about 170 square metres, features choice works of art and design pieces, soft cushions and rich colours. The view out of the bay window is breathtaking. On the banks of the roaring river Main, the trees defy the wind. Autumn leaves whirl through the air. Behind this view sparkle the skyscrapers of the financial metropolis – which is now also a fashion city.

Fashion and design are what Pia and Dan Buck have built their careers around. Both born in Swabia, the couple met in Reutlingen in 2007, where they were studying “car interior design”. They worked on a few projects together and soon became a couple. After finishing their study programs, the pair began working freelance and designed textile and leather collections for vehicle interiors. “This is what gave us the idea to turn to products where you can still make a difference as a designer,” says Pia. In her view, tights are a prime example of this. “At the time, it was a really outdated marked that promoted a very one-sided image of women. Almost all tights fit poorly, sizing was not transparent and they had little in the way of sustainable packaging.” Above all, however, the designer was bothered by the products’ short life cycle. “Tights are a classic example of planned obsolescence,” says Pia. “Even today, sometimes people still put up with tights that break the first time you put them on. That is what we wanted to change.”

“Tights are a classic example of planned obsolescence. Even today, sometimes people still put up with tights that break the first time you put them on. That is what we wanted to change.”

Pia Buck, Bataillon Belette

Bye-bye ladders

The couple began designing the product in 2012. They had contacts with yarn manufacturers from their time at university, who could help them achieve their goal: shifting from a disposable product to a durable fashion basic that fits perfectly. Development took two and a half years. The desired durability is achieved through a combination of a special yarn and an alternative type of knit. Pia and Dan Buck develop each product in their range slowly and carefully, using the expertise of Zoeva – a make-up company – to find the perfect skin tone for their tights. The ideal blue colour is created in cooperation with Lufthansa, and matches the exact shade of the airline’s uniforms. “What sets us apart is our attention to detail,” explains Pia. “From the product to packaging right up to the fit. All our tights also have a small heart embroidered on the left thigh. These are all things that make production more time consuming and more expensive, but we don’t mind.”

Their goal? To sell fewer tights

Despite all their finesse, like traditional tights Bataillon Belette’s products are also made of polyamide (nylon) and elastane. “There is a lot of greenwashing in the fashion industry, but we have to make it clear here that tights are not green,” says Dan Buck. Indeed, both nylon and elastane have miserable green credentials, with some toxic chemicals even used to make the synthetic fibres. Microplastic is also an issue. Neither of the materials are biodegradable and elastane cannot even be recycled. Despite this, the material is needed to make the tights stretchy. Once they wear out, they end up in landfill. It is not for no reason that about two billion new pairs of tights are produced globally each year.

“We monitor yarn research very closely,” stresses Dan. “But until something revolutionary happens, maybe even in terms of natural fibres, we believe the most sensible thing to do is increase the lifespan of tights. If we are already expending the energy making them, at the very least we want to do everything we can to make sure that they last for as long as possible. As absurd as it sounds, our aim is to sell as few pairs of tights as possible.”

“As absurd as it sounds, our aim is to sell as few pairs of tights as possible.”

Dan Buck, Bataillon Belette

Sustainably designed premium essentials

Since October 2021, Bataillon Belette’s range of tights has included eight vibrant shades as part of a new collection known as “Dopamine”.
“After the pandemic, everyone’s interested in colour again,” says Pia. “This represents a real revolution for us, because until recently our favourite colour was still the timeless black.” As well as creamy white, cool grey, chocolate brown and grassy green, the tights are also available in the colours of electric red, electric blue, babyish blue and lucid purple. Moving forwards, Pia and Dan plan to expand their portfolio in the area of basic essentials. “In our opinion, fashion basics deserve a bit more love. After all, they are true everyday heroes,” says Dan. “Tights were the greatest area needing improvement in our eyes, but there are others too.”