IU alumna designer Carol Coelho (B.S. Merchandising, B.A. Individualized Major Program, ‘05) creates lingerie that is a form of self-expression and confidence, rather than a tool for seduction. A veteran of Bill Blass and Isaac Mizrahi, Coelho launched Carol Coelho Intimates in 2015. The brand is now carried by 35 retailers across the US and has been featured in publications and trend forecasts in the US and Europe.
Considered an avant-garde trend-setter in the industry for incorporating details and materials in an unusual way, Coelho’s company evinces a commitment to women’s empowerment and ethics, cultivating responsible business practices at each level of the supply chain.
Born and raised in a small town in Brazil, Coelho, who is the granddaughter of a seamstress and tailor, always knew she wanted to be a designer. Following her studies in fashion, costume design, and merchandising at IU, Coelho worked as an assistant designer for the house of Bill Blass in New York. After a season working in fabric manipulation in Paris, the designer was hired in 2009 by Isaac Mizrahi as a textile director. Hired in 2011 as head designer for Carlos Miele in Brazil, Coelho launched her own custom-made evening and bridal gown label in 2013, launching Carol Coelho Intimates when asked two years later to design nuptial lingerie. Coelho’s professional journey has also included designing for Michael Vollbracht, Prabal Gurung, and Peter Som.
