The Kooples open in London

Friday, 26 November 2010

French based fashion brand The Kooples opened its first of three stores in London’s Kings Road this week. Spread over ground and basement floors, the new 2,150 sq ft boutique is expected to bring an alluring rebellious streak to the Kings Road with the brand’s reworked tailored menswear for both men and women – undoing the traditional perception of separate men’s and women’s clothing by creating a concept that fuses both collections together.

Founded in Paris by three French brothers - Alexandre, Lauren and Raphael Elicha (sons of Comptoir des Cotonniers) - in July 2008, The Kooples is renowned for using authentic couples in its ad campaigns to deliver its very unique message; women with men, men with men and women with women – real couples of all ages and styles fully clad in tailored sleeves and slim fit trousers.

The Kooples, which is French slang for ‘The Couples’, has a real synergy with London, particularly with its love of Saville Row. Patrick Grant of Norton & Sons is consultant on the tailoring which is cut skinny and fitted with interesting detailing including subtle skulls and emblems on collars cuffs and necklines. However, the collection is vast including leather jumpsuits and biker jackets, lace tops, scallop edged silk shorts and skeleton printed jersey t-shirts for women and flat front trousers, leather motorcycle jackets, shirting and knitwear for men as well as accessories.

The brand also produces jewellery in partnership with famous rockers’ jewellery store on Carnaby Street, The Great Frog.

The opening of three stores in London will add to the The Kooples impressive portfolio of stores – it already has 110 stores in France. The second store is expected to follow at the end of this month in Carnaby Street with a third in St Christopher’s Place in early December. Selfridges will open a further two concessions in December.

Duncan Gilliard of Cushman & Wakefield (who advised the brand), comments: “Given the strong demand for prime retail property in central London, we are delighted to have assisted The Kooples on these three shops. We are continuing to work with the retailer as it looks to expand in both central and London village locations.”

http://www.fashionunited.co.uk/fashion-news/fashion/the-kooples-open-in-london-2010112610217

EVENTS

The Kooples also keeps us up to date via their website on cool upcoming arts, musical and cultural events happening around Europe.

Here's an example of the most recent update which lays out events taking place from March to July:

By Rob Alvès

"EXHIBITIONS

GABRIEL OROZCO

The work of Gabriel Orozco, a Mexican visual artist and photographer, exposes the routine and habits of mortals and calls them into question: A checkered skull, A DS Citroën transformed into a tropical fish...               

Tate Modern (London) Until the 25th of April

ALREADY-MADE?

Group show that consolidates historical pieces, new or unedited by (Koons, Pierre and Gilles...) or (Basquiat, Warhol, Ben...) on the topic of the metamorphosis of a manufactured work of art.

Gallery Jérome de Noirmont (Paris) February 4th to the 24th of March

FRANCOIS MORELLET

The REINSTALATIONS show accentuates an original and pioneering aspect of this artists' work: his installations made from neon tubes, light with projections, adhesive strips applied to the wall, metal plates, etc.      Pompidou Museum (Paris) from the 2nd of March to the 4th of July.

LAURIE ANDERSON, TRISHA BROWN & GORDON MATTA-CLARK

These three friends are the pioneers of the downtown scene of the 70's in New York and are showing sculptures, drawings, photography, and various multi-media documents used at the time.

Barbican Art Gallery (London) From the 3rd of April to the 22nd

CINEMA

TRUE GRIT

A young but determined fourteen-year-old girl hires an alcoholic Marshall to help her track down and take revenge on her fathers' murderer... This latest adaptation of Charles Portis' novel is a western, this time it's revisited by the Cohen brothers.

Starring Jeff bridges and Matt Damon, the powder keg blows on the 23rd of February (Paris)

WASTE LAND

Winner of several international film prizes (Berlin, Sundance), this documentary traces the footsteps of Brazilian born Brooklyn based Vik Muniz back to Brazil and to the largest dumping grounds in the world. Here he convinces the "catadores" that salvage the trash to construct works of art with his guidance. Poignant. 

23rd of March 2011

RESTLESS

Gus Van Sant's new film is announced as jaw dropping. The savory Mia Wasikowska (Tim Burton's Alice) will play the role of a sick adolescent; reaching her terminal phase she falls for a young man fascinated by funerals.

30th of March (Paris)

THE TREE OF LIFE

All-star cast for this new drama by Terrence Malick (Badlands, The Thin Red Line) starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, two brothers that are facing destiny grow out of innocence and try to make sense out of life.

May 2011

MUSIC

PJ HARVEY

With her latest album Let England Shake, reviewed as passionate and fantastical, PJ Harvey will be performing two concerts in Paris's infamous concert hall.

Concerts are on the 24th and 25th at the Olympia (Paris).

PETER HOOK

In order to properly celebrate the thirty-year anniversary of Unknown Pleasures; Joy Division's revolutionary album; the eccentric bassist Peter Hook and some of his friends will play the album in its entirety. One night only, and it's in France. 10th of March at Trabendo (Paris)

BLACK KEYES

These dark wizards of rock are gearing up for a quick French tour, this band from Ohio is releasing their sixth album and is once more drawing in crowds. Teetering between rock soul and blues, the rough edges of the Black Keys are not to be missed.

15th of March at Olympia (Paris), 16th at Olympic (Nantes) and the 25th at Aéronef (Lille).

LES FEMMES S'EN MELENT

On the road from Paris to Province you can check out the fourteenth edition of "Les Femmes s'en Mêlent" a festival of independent women with music that covers everything from country and electro to punk and folk.

From the 19th of March to the 3rd of April in Paris and Province.

CAMDEN CRAWL

From Saturday April 30th to Sunday the first of March, the tenth edition of the Camden Crawl will rev its engine. With over two hundred concerts spread out in over fifty locations of this historical and legendary neighborhood.

From the 30th of April to the 1st of May, Camden (London).

PULP

After more than fifteen years of silence, the six original members of Pulp will reunite for only two concerts. They've promised to play songs from each stage of their career; from the early 80's to their last stop in 96'.

The 27th of May at the Primavera Festival (Barcelona), the 3rd of July at the Wireless Festival (Hyde Park).

JALOUSE ROCK FESTIVAL

This festival organized by the fashion magazine Jalouse puts a spotlight on youthful talents by sidelining them with established members of rock. Every year they're all given a chance to entertain the crowds on various stages of the Parisian scene.   

Paris from the 1st to the 3rd of June

RAY DAVIES / MELTDOWN

Following in the footsteps of his predecessors; David Bowie, Morrisey, Jarvis Cocker and Patti Smith, the Kinks' Ray Davies is taking charge of the artistic direction for the Meltdown festival (concerts, dj sets, conferences, cinema and visual art).

From the 10th to the 19th of June, Southbank Center (London).

KINGS OF LEON

After the colossal success of their previous opus (multi-platinum), the Kings of Leon will present Come Around Sundown, their fifth album, by touring across England playing large venue shows, at the very beginning of the summer.

22nd and 23rd of June at Hyde Park (London)

CALVI ON THE ROCKS

This festival is everything other summer festivals wish they could be. Calvi on the Rocks will be dousing amateurs of Rock and electronic music with a serious dose of progressive music, all of this will happen in an amazing setting and on a smaller scale than that of their competitors.

Calvi (Corsica) From the 1st to the 6th of July. "

The Kooples and The Great Frog

By Jon Savage

" I once the preserve of black-clad outsiders, nowit has been reconfigured - in the collaboration between the Kooples and theGreat Frog - as a sleek high fashion item.

n the 21st century, thelifestyle and appearance of the formerly marginal, outcast even, have becomechic

and desirable. Take theexample of the skull ring:

This Skull Head is abeautiful object. Hand-carved in wax at the Soho studios of the Great Frog, itis then cast in UK hallmarked sterling silver. It has an enigmatic lustre thatmomentarily diverts the mind from what it is: a skull-head, that memento moribeloved of pirates, rockers, and all those who choose to live outside the law.

The Great Frog have beenproducing the Skull Head since 1972, and over the last four decades, they hadmany celebrity clients. They include outsiders like Lemmy, Iggy Pop, AliceCooper and Pete Doherty. But their appeal is wider, extending to modern heroeslike the Arctic Monkeys, Pink and - the biggest pop star on the planet - LadyGaga.

The collaboration with thesharp style of the Kooples is not as surprising as it might seem. Severalgenerations of Parisians in particular have had a deep and well researchedfascination with the style and music of hardcore rock and have been among theGreat Frog's best customers.

For this project, theSkull was subtly redesigned by Reino Lehtonen Riley, the son of the Great Frogfounder Paterson Riley. There are subtle changes to the basic skull template:the eye sockets are slightly narrowed, and the teeth are neatly arranged. Theforehead is domed, and there is no excess decoration.

The result is a sleek,minimal artefact that fits the Kooples brief of classics with a twist. It canbe worn as a flourish to an otherwise conventional looking outfit: an index ofa wildness that chooses not to proclaim itself, but rather to be discovered bythose with eyes to see.

This new variant on theDeath's Head shows that it is possible to give familiar symbols new relevance.Over the last sixty years the skull ring has made a long move from outré rockerto high fashion: the process begun by rock- stars and cutting-edge designers isfinally complete. What remains is the power of the image.

What is it that we findso attractive about pirates and rock stars, those iconic wearers of the SkullHead? It's not that they are death-haunted, but that every time they look atthat symbol, they recog-nise the finite quality of life. So it serves as apermanent reminder to extract the maximum intensity from the moment, to be herenow. It's the only way to live. "

Love is the drug

By John Robb

" Aflash of bulbs, a swaggering walk, a lifestyle beyond the law-pop culture couples have signposted our times since the war.

Each decade is reflected by it's own pop culture power couple. Thelate fifties saw the king of pop- the leonine Elvis marry the, frankly, fairlyyoung Priscilla. Elvis was the horny beast that terrified middle America withhis devilish hip swinging songs that were semi disguised orgasms set to theprimal backbeat of black music. After marriage Elvis clowned around in endless‘b' movies and started singing ballads- a lost soul whose mojo wouldmomentarily return on stage.

If Elvis and Priscilla were the first real pop couple then Johnand Yoko summed up the next decade.

Lennon drove the Beatles and the whole of his generation on anendless quest for something that no-one ever seemed to find but had a greatsoundtrack.

When he met Japanese artist Yoko Ono the pair of them swiftlymerged into one with the same hair, wardrobe, and determination to make art ofthe media in the ballad of John and Yoko.

The Stones also housed a key pop culture couple with KeithRichards and Anita Pallenberg whose bohemian drug waltz saw them morph intoone- a blur of leopardskin, impenetrable shades, bird's nest hair and awkwardteeth framed by pale faces and a vampiric demeanor that looked far tooseductive and attractive for their lifestyle.

Smack had never looked so sexy.

The seventies saw the Sex Pistols whose bass player Sid Vicioustook the rock n roll trip to its furthest excess.

The befuddled Sid was just about getting way with it until he fellin with Nancy Spungen- a lower league rock ‘n' roll groupie. Nancy, in her madand loose way, gave Sid a brief shelter in 

those fast ticking down last years of his life. She also gave hima raging smack habit and lots of bad ideas on how to conduct himself. ThePistols fell apart and so did Sid who was lost in a sea of drug clichés.

Kurt and Courtney shared the same messy tale of drugs and love.Kurt's sensitive soul was not built for the shallow empty sewer of success andhis tragic suicide ended this very modern love story.

The 21st century has been blighted by celeb culture- couples whoare as boring as they are talentless. The only highpoint has been the chemicalswagger of Pete Doherty, the helter skelter Libertine, who met Kate Moss andsuddenly found his itinerant, chemical lifestyle was now under the mediaspotlight and he could no longer get away with sex, drugs and rock n roll.

But it didn't stop him and even if the love affair that dominatedthe tabloids fell apart Doherty still creates confounding the media.

It's a very modern fable and proof that the potency of the couplesmyth and the power of love over everything else is still strong. "

Savile Row and The Kooples

By Simon Crompton

" Savile Row is not particularly old by London standards, having only been erected with the surrounding streets and squares in the eighteenth century. However, tailors began populating the area in the following century and have remained there ever since. 

This led to a historic tradition of tailoring that is unmatched anywhere in the world. There is no point listing the names of the eminent gentlemen that have had their clothes made there; the list would be too long. Whether it be British royalty, Hollywood movie stars or modern rockabillies, they have all had suits made on Savile Row.

The Kooples began working with Norton & Sons back in 2007. Alexandre and Laurent were already bespoke customers of Nortons and admired both the pattern cutting and construction techniques used to make their suits. When they set up their own brand, they naturally turned to Patrick Grant (owner of Norton & Sons) and his team to both help create the patterns for their own jackets and select the best materials.

"I think those are two distinct things we can offer," says Patrick. "Our knowledge of tailoring allows us to bring some time-honored techniques to the patterns for ready-to- wear clothing, improving the shape of the sleeve and armhole for example. And then we are privileged to spend our days working with the finest fabrics in the world, so we can use that experience to help brands like The Kooples select the best materials. The cloth is what differentiates them immediately from other ready-to-wear brands. The benefits of a high armhole will dawn on the customer slowly."

Anyone popping in to one of The Kooples' boutiques (King's Road, Carnaby Street and St Christopher's Place) will immediately realize the quality of the garments that have been produced. They will find slightly heavier material, which drape well and create a better structure. They will realize the superiority of the fit as soon as they slip on a jacket. This is the Savile Row tailoring influence. "

Editorial

By Patrick Eudeline

" On a recent trip to London I was shocked, Carnaby Street was deserted.

This is where the heart of Brit rock used to thump; this is Carnaby Street after all! Everyone used to sing its praise! It was the very symbol of triumph in decadence; this street was alive and hosted the Stones, The Beatles and The Who...

This is why The Kooples in London, on Carnaby Street, is good news. This legendary street is where the skull brand is settling in London. As always you'll be able to find elegance in the suits and the dandy wear. The Kooples couldn't have found a better address.

As you might know, the big news for The Kooples is in... The Kooples is in the process of launching "The Kooples Records"! In this issue you'll discover a mission statement, a manifest, a promise, that The Kooples is creating its own label. And rest assured, they'll be following the same vigilance and line of conduct as they do when creating their line of clothing. "

What's The Kooples ?

" Military elegance, revisited flight jackets, cardigans, dresses for iconic women, British styled “Crombie” coats, but let us not forget, the perfected three piece suit. Close fitting, tailored like the shirts and coats of Saville Row, that infamous street in London that’s been dressing dandies; from gentlemen to rock star, Winston Churchill to David Bowie, with an oh so British look. Details that make all the difference: Skull and Crossbones on buttons and a coat of arms just to name a few. To summarize the couples are The Kooples! Masculin/ Feminin, Godard would have called it; slightly androgynous and modern. The Kooples gathers its inspiration from the codes of rock, from music, but with its own signature traits that only truly belong in 2011. It doesn’t matter if it’s night or day, if you’re wearing The Kooples it’s just plain chic. "

http://www.thekooples.co.uk/index.php?coe_i_id=554

"Founded by French brothers Alexandre, Lauren and Raphael Elicha, The Kooples ditches traditional concepts of gender to create a modern and sexy take on androgynous style."

http://www.selfridges.com/en/Whats-On/Latest-news/News/The-Kooples-Arrives-At-Selfridges_The%20Kooples%20Arrives%20At%20Selfridges/?brdcrmb_trail=News3

Project Alteration

I have now been informed that we may no longer be doing a Brand Marketing Plan on Aldo.
Now that we have the option of choosing a new brand, I have decided to choose The Kooples as it is a brand I am deeply inspired by and am most likely to come up and develop a great new product design.

To be continued...

Inspirational material

The Kooples is a brand I find really inspiring, not only because it has a real Rock and Roll edgy feel to it but also because I love the concept of their brand as well as their ad campaigns.

The Kooples alludes to the way the french say 'the couples' in english with the accent and as a result have put couples at the center of their ad campaigns. Men and women who are in a couple can apply to be a part of the The Kooples campaign and feature as brand representatives.
Here are a few examples:

The Kooples Lookbook Spring 2010

Lars and Anna in a couple for 3years

Sascha and Romain in a couple for 3months

David and Sophie in a couple for 3 years

Alexandra and Demi in a couple for 2days! 

Robert and Gemma in a couple for 6 months 

Jean-Francois and Tanya in a couple for 2 and a half years

THE KOOPLES IS A CELEBRATION OF LOVE, ROCK & ROLL ATTITUDE, SOPHISTICATION AND CREATIVITY AS WELL AS TOLERANCE FOR AGE, GENDER AND SEXUALITY...

Aldo Watches range Ad

Aldo Handbag Ad

Here is an ad poster displaying the various places you may be able to buy Aldo shoes online

"Here’s your gorgeous A-list of Aldo shoes online and 3 tips on buying your shoes online. Together with you, it is making a difference. The brand is founded as a shoes concession within a chain of popular fashion boutiques.

Aldo incorporated all the way back in 1964 by Aldo Bensadoun in Lochee where its corporate headquarters remain today. It is the shopping target for fashion-conscious women who appreciate value.

You may shop women and men shoes and find a wide range of styles and sizes at the Aldo online store. Its women shoes are suitable for all occasions including boots, pumps, wedges, sandals, platform, peep-toe, flats shoes, flip-flops.

Where Can I Buy Aldo shoes online?

Aldo Group, a privately-held company which operates close to 1,400 retail stores, over 700 of which are under the Aldo banner. This group aldo consists of other brands including Spring shoes, Feetfirst shoes, Globo shoes, and Little Burgundy shoes. The original group includes 4 Canadian stores in Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City and Winnipeg.

The group is there in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland as well as in 41 franchised countries by the end of 2009. Its outstanding quality products and edgy styles will allow it to have an interesting stride with other competitive brands such as Naughty Monkey shoes, Sui shoes, Miu Miu shoes and XOXO shoes.

Aldo offers website that is fully secure shopping environment to assist you in shopping or buying your Aldo shoes online. Aldo gift cards can be purchased online, but they cannot be used to pay for online purchases at this time. Gift cards can be used for in-store purchases only. Visit Aldo shoes store for its products. If you wish to moonwalk the internet world, you’re just a click away to land in Aldo website to check out the latest Aldo shoes. That’s a great way to keep up with the latest from your favorite. "            Ads by Google 

Here are some examples of various shots of the Aldo's Fall 2010 ad campaign

New Project - New Ideas

Time has flown by so fast since I re-joined the FdA Fashion Marketing and Promotion at LCF course in October. Here we are, at the beginning of the 3rd Term already starting our Final Major Project. We have been given 11weeks to complete it, this will conclude the year as well as our Degree.
For this project we have been given 2 options; a Brand Marketing Plan for Aldo and a Business Plan for a brand of our choice.
Having chosen to work on the Brand Marketing Plan for Aldo, I have yet to decide what my new product design I would like to develop.
I guess i will start by analysing the market positioning, opportunities for expansion and customer profile before deciding which campaign I will be creating.

I have decided to give myself until the end of the week to get all the primary and secondary research out of the way.
Then from the 4th of April  I must have started outlining my ideas for the campaign as well as mapping a weekly deadline of all the elements that need to be carried-out weekly in order to develop my campaign.

For the filming of my ad campaign, I have already asked my cousin who just graduated for the Met Film School to help me film it. In my opinion having a professional eye on directing the project could really help me but it would also be a great exercise for him too, as he has never filmed an advert before.