French brand The Kooples to open 5th London store

London’s reputation as the destination of choice for international retailers has been re-affirmed today by the announcement that French fashion brand The Kooples will be opening another store in the city next month.

Representing the company’s fifth standalone outlet in the UK’s capital, the new shop at South Molton Street in Mayfair will start serving the public in around four weeks’ time.

It comes after research by real estate firm CB Richard Ellis, published yesterday, revealed that London has retained its position as the most popular retail city in the world but now shares the top spot with Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The study of the world’s top 323 retailers indicated that 56 per cent of companies have stores in London - the same number as Dubai.

In comparison, New York, Paris and Hong Kong are home to 44.3, 43.6 and 40.6 per cent of the top retailers respectively.

The Kooples already boasts stores in other exclusive London retail destinations, Kings Road, Carnaby Street and St Christopher’s Place, as well as having concessions in department store Selfridges.

An outlet at Westfield London is due to open shortly as the company increases its presence on British soil.

During the latest contract negotiations King Sturge advised the landlord of the South Molton Street premises, City of London Corporation, while Cushman & Wakefield represented The Kooples.

Louisa Dalgleish, assistant surveyor at King Sturge, said: “The Kooples has taken the London retail market by storm, opening three units at the tail end of last year.

“This has been in tandem with a distinctive marketing campaign on London buses and taxis featuring real-life couples modelling their clothes.”

http://www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/44213-french-brand-the-kooples-to-open-5th-london-store

The Kooples collaboration with Pete Doherty

http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/peter-doherty-to-design-for-the-kooples-3602588

Peter Doherty to Design For The Kooples

FOR PETE’S SAKE: After jewelry, Peter Doherty is branching out into clothes. The British rocker and former boyfriend of Kate Moss is collaborating with French contemporary brand The Kooples on a mini-collection for men and women due to go on sale in its stores from October. The line will include flannel blazers, Soviet-style coats with fur collars and T-shirts printed with the musician’s own paintings and sketches, all inspired by doomed Byronic heroes, the brand said.

Doherty in December unveiled a jewelry collection designed with London jeweler Hannah Martin and in 2007 worked on a line of T-shirts with British label Gio-Goi. It is not the only venture into music for The Kooples, which recently launched its own record label, The Kooples Records, and is searching for couples who record music together to feature on its debut compilation. The brand, famous for its advertisements featuring real couples in his-and-hers outfits, has enlisted the help of French punk legend Patrick Eudeline to select 10 songs for the album, which will be distributed in its stores and available for downloading through its Web site.

http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/peter-doherty-to-design-for-the-kooples-3602588