Gelmor Lace - French Lace Importers
This is the story of 3 generations’ passion for lace
Gelmor Trading Company Inc., or more affectionately known as Gelmor Lace, is the oldest and largest importer of French lace & tulle. Gelmor was founded in 1948 by three partners, all of whom escaped the Nazis during WWII and found their way to New York. Together with a family member in Lyon, France they began importing lace from France to the United States, centrally located in the heart of the fashion industry, the Garment District in NYC. Since the beginning they served the ready to wear, bridal, and hat market with the finest French imports. Differentiating Gelmor from their competitors, they have always stocked their lace in New York so as to meet their customers’ immediate needs.
Leo Elson [founder], far right, accepting an award on behalf of Gelmor Trading Co.
‘the original Gelmor Girls’
Today, Gelmor Lace is still a family-run business led by Marilyn and Hillary – a mother-daughter team, or as they like to say, ‘the original Gelmor Girls’. Marilyn joined the company in 1981 and is the expert on all things French Lace. She was lucky enough to learn from her father, Leo Elson (one of the original partners). Mr. Elson was respected and admired by all who worked with him for his knowledge, compassion, and honesty. The old timers still remember him with fondness! Marilyn has a love and passion for lace, and the industry producing it, and she relishes the opportunity to teach and to share her knowledge with young and old. She has an amazing talent for remembering each customer’s likes, and any pattern they’ve taken over the many, many years she’s run Gelmor. Not only does Marilyn love to reminisce about the “old times”, but looks forward to the new generation of designers and is especially proud that her daughter, Hillary, chose to continue in her grandfather’s footsteps.
A New Generation
Hillary joined the Gelmor team in 2019, after gaining experience in different areas of the fashion industry. Hillary has had a growing passion for the business throughout her life as she watched her mother run the company. Hillary always had her eyes set on joining Gelmor and is thrilled to represent the new generation in her role. Through the years, as tastes have changed and trends have come and gone, Gelmor has continued to add new styles and designs while staying true to their core values – the finest imports exclusively from France, always stocked in their showroom in NYC, and exceptional service.
