Most Kenyan shoppers know Mango. Fewer know Etam. That gap is odd, because Etam is the most complete lingerie brand now available in Kenya — a French house a hundred years old, with a catalogue running from cotton everyday underwear to occasion lingerie, swimwear and pyjamas.
This is a short guide to what Etam is, how it sizes on Kenyan bodies, and what it does well.
What Etam is
Etam started in Paris in the 1910s as a hosiery house. Today it sits between Marks & Spencer and La Perla — better construction than the high street, less ceremony than luxury French lingerie. The brand sells through Etam-owned stores across Europe and, since early 2024, online in Kenya at leorana.com.
The full Etam range covers six areas: bras, underwear, pyjamas and sleepwear, swimwear, loungewear, and footwear.
Sizing
Bras come in European bands and cups: 80B, 85C, 90D and up. A rough translation:
- UK 32B ≈ EU 70B
- UK 34C ≈ EU 75C
- UK 36D ≈ EU 80D
- UK 38DD ≈ EU 85E
- UK 40F ≈ EU 90F
Etam carries a wider range than most high-street brands — bands 70 to 100, cups A through G in the core ranges. For shoppers who have struggled to find larger cups reliably stocked in Kenya, this is the main reason to know the brand.
Underwear runs EU 34 to 46 in the core range and true to French sizing. Wear EU 38 in Mango? You'll wear EU 38 in Etam.
The ranges worth knowing
Bras. The largest category. Everyday t-shirt bras Ksh 2,500–4,500; lace and balconette styles Ksh 4,000–7,500. See Etam bras.
Pyjamas and sleepwear. One of Etam's strongest categories — cotton, satin and jersey sets at Ksh 4,000–9,000. See Etam pyjamas.
Swimwear. Mix-and-match sets, separates, full-piece swimsuits. Demand spikes October through March for coast holidays. See Etam swimwear.
Footwear. A smaller range of sandals and flats. See Etam footwear.
Why Etam rather than a local alternative
Two reasons.
Size range. Etam stocks bands and cups that most Kenyan department stores do not. If you wear a 75F or a 90E, Etam is likely the only reliably-stocked option here.
Discreet logistics. Lingerie is a category many shoppers want delivered quietly. Leorana.com ships in plain packaging, handles returns by appointment in the Nairobi store, and takes M-Pesa. Nothing reads "lingerie order" on your delivery manifest.
Prices
Most Etam pieces sit between Ksh 2,500 and Ksh 9,000. The lowest everyday cotton underwear starts around Ksh 1,200 in multi-packs. The highest-end lace and occasion lingerie tops out around Ksh 12,000. Swimwear sets Ksh 4,500–9,500.
The short answer
For lingerie, pyjamas or swimwear in Kenya with a reliable fit and a wider size range than the high street, Etam is the answer. Shop the full Etam catalogue, or go direct to bras, pyjamas or swimwear.
