Greek Designer Sophia Kokosalaki, Diesel’s Fashion Engine

Greek Designer Sophia Kokosalaki, Diesel’s Fashion Engine

The iconic fashion brand Diesel may be an Italian company, but it has a young Greek designer who has helped make it a must-buy for its fans: Sophia Kokosalaki, who has her own brand in London and in the past few years has been working as Diesel’s creative director, prepared her last show for them.

Kokosalaki was born and raised in Greece,  where she studied literature before moving to London to try her hand in the fashion world and open her own company in 1999, before joining Diesel as well. Kokosalaki worked for the company’s upscale denim brand Diesel Black Gold a/k/a DBG. Since June 2009, Kokosalaki has supervised Diesel creations, turning the Italian firm into a reference point for media and enthusiasts in the modern fashion field.

According to fashion sector followers, her talent and creativity have given a dark and romantic touch to the brand’s clothes and have become an essential part of the New York Fashion Week. The Greek designer’s final collection for the Diesel brand will be showcased at NYC Fashion Week in September this year. Alexa Chung, Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson are some of the celebrities who’ve chosen to wear Kokosalaki’s creations at several events.

Fergie Joins Case-Mate To Launch Mobile Device Fashion Accessories Campaign

Fergie Joins Case-Mate To Launch Mobile Device Fashion Accessories Campaign

Case-Mate is the international design company known for creating fashion-forward accessories that protect, adorn, and enhance mobile technology. In the upcoming campaign, Fergie will join Selena Gomez and Common on Case-Mate's growing roster of fashionable celebrity trend-setters who will inspire Millennials to outfit their smartphones, tablets and other portable electronic devices with cases that complement their various styles and individual personalities.

The integrated marketing campaign will include broadcast, digital, and social media-based programming. In addition, Fergie and Common will be co-hosting a mobile accessories fashion event in New York City for Case-Mate during 2013 Spring Fashion Week this September.

"I'm a huge believer in changing up my look to express the way I feel – and am always looking for fun accessories to spice up my outfit so I feel confident and sexy," said Fergie. "I'm really excited about partnering with Case-Mate – they are such a fun, edgy brand that I relate to on so many levels."

The rock-star-turned-fashion-designer is known for her chic and flirtatious sense of style. Fergie was named to People Magazine's "Best Dressed" List and has since launched Fergie™ and Fergalicious by Fergie™ footwear lines, along with fragrances Viva, Outspoken and Outspoken Intense.

"Fergie's free spirit and passion-for-fashion make her a perfect fit for Case-Mate," said Shashi Reddy, Case-Mate's founder and CEO. "She's a creative icon that has broken through barriers in film, music and fashion – and we are thrilled to be working with her."

The campaign is set to air beginning in September 2012.

FashionTakes A Cue From Food Carts

 FashionTakes A Cue From Food Carts

WASHINGTON — The first time the brakes went out in her trailer/store, Joey Wolffer ran a stoplight and worried what would happen to her high-end accessories inside. Two years later, she has a close relationship with a mechanic, knows the best spot to park in New York’s Meatpacking district and has a devoted summer following in the Hamptons.

Wolffer transformed a greasy potato chip truck into a 1980s glam, bohemian den she named “Styleliner." It is stocked with limited-edition accessories, like a $430 crystal and fringe necklace, from her world travels.

Friends were always asking Wolffer where she got a piece of jewelry, and the former trend director for Jones Apparel Group said she was looking for a unique way to introduce some favorite designers to the U.S. market, along with some of her own creations. She bought the truck with money she inherited and set up shop.

Styleliner is among a handful of mobile retail stores in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Portland and across the U.S. that are hawking vintage accessories, sexy shoes and denim to die for in their haute wheels. Owners say they’re taking cues from the food truck industry, which glamorized street cuisine, garnered a cult following and even spawned a hit TV show.

“I wanted relationships with customers. I wanted to get out there and work with people and meet new people all the time," said Wolffer, who made a profit her first summer in business in 2010.

A new shopping experience

The boutiques on wheels can only accommodate a few customers at a time, providing a more intimate shopping experience than a crowded department store. Styleliner can fit about five customers at a time.

“The old door-to-door salesman is too difficult in today’s world, but we’re seeing an uptick in bringing the product to the consumers," said Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst at New York-based NPD group.

It’s also a cheaper way for startup companies to break into the business quickly.When former fashion editor Sarah Ellison Lewis wanted to open a funky shoe boutique in Austin, Texas, she had sticker shock every time she saw the price for a store lease. So for a quarter of the price she bought a 30-foot trailer, decorated it with vintage wallpaper photography and reclaimed wooden benches, and leased a parking spot between a chic hotel and a popular brunch spot.

She declined to say how much she paid for the truck or her parking spot. Retail spots in hot Austin neighborhoods can be as high as $45 per square foot, according to Habitat Hunters Real Estate Services. Lewis does not pay property taxes, but many mobile retailers are required to pay permit fees, which vary by city.

The 36-year-old stylist specializes in smaller, hard-to-find designers of men’s and women’s shoes. Bootleg Austin’s customers — about 50 a weekend — love to paw through her well-curated collection that includes black ankle booties with gold buckles, polka dot flats and gold metallic lace-up sandals. The trailer was turning a profit in nine months, says Lewis, who predominantly sells from her leased space, but is about to embark on a 20-city tour this fall.

“This was about being an entrepreneur and doing it in a strange and audacious way and the trailer brings out all these great stories from people that I love," said Lewis. “I wanted to do something that was also really friendly and really warm. I’m really sick of retails being cold and stark and snotty."

Experts say traditional stores want to collaborate with mobile retailers, not compete with them. The trend comes as brick and mortar stores are struggling to get customers excited about shopping in a struggling economy.

“It’s an opportunity to get (customers) into the parking lot and go to the mobile truck and we believe there’s overflow traffic that goes right into the store from there," said Mike Gatti, a senior vice president of the National Retail Federation. “We’re not hearing really any complaints about them."

Customers are also drawn to the novel experience and personal attention they get from mobile retailers.

“People love it. You are now back to the social aspect of shopping," said Cohen.

In Portland, shoppers sift through vintage dresses and men’s ties on a tricked-out double-decker bus. The Fashion Truck features cute and affordable clothes from its Boston-based trailer. A chevron print shift dress sells for $48.

Other industries

And it’s not just retail. Experts predict consumers will see more industries, including medical and home furnishing, hitting the road.The Man Cave offers haircuts, shoe shines and neck massages in an air-conditioned trailer with high-end cigars and a humidifier. Owner Julia Hutton also runs two other mobile retailers in Phoenix, including Biker, Babes and Beyond LLC and Bling N’ Things.

Hutton’s other company, ExTreme ReTrailers, designs custom trailers to look like mini-stores on wheels. The trailers include wireless credit card machines, changing rooms and air conditioning.Trailers start at $10,000. Hutton has five companies looking to purchase within the month, including a massage business, a pet products retailer and a craft store, she said.

She decided to take her store on the road after struggling to get enough foot traffic at her biker store in northern Arizona.Hutton says mobile retailers solve a lot of problems for entrepreneurs in a struggling economy.

“They own their own business. They own their own building that the business is in. They own their own billboard. They have a traveling billboard wherever they go."

Hot Topic Launches Apparel Line - Royal Bones By Daang

Hot Topic Launches Apparel Line - Royal Bones By Daang

 

 

Daang Goodman, designer and purveyor of street fashion brand Tripp NYC, has expanded her collection with a new line exclusively for Hot Topic called Royal Bones by Daang.Designed within the Tripp NYC sensibility, Royal Bones by Daang reflects New York City’s underground street culture and rock 'n' roll lifestyle. The collection will include everything from skinny jeans and shredded tees to skull-printed dresses and sexy corsets, and is available exclusively in Hot Topic’s 620 stores and online.

“Hot topic customers are individualistic – just like me. They like to wear clothes that make them stand out – and that’s what I’ve been designing for them for years,” says Daang. “Royal Bones by Daang is a great opportunity to take our long-standing relationship with Hot Topic to a whole new level.”

Daang’s love for apparel design was born when she was a young woman. She found herself designing and making her own clothes in order to create an edgy look that was reflective of her lifestyle. She developed clothes for Trash & Vaudeville – a mainstay of alternative fashion on St. Mark’s Place in New York City. There, rockers, mods, punks, goths, rockabillies and everyday working-class heroes who just wanted to walk and dress on the wild side could find “rock n roll to wear.” Daang’s Tripp line very quickly became popular among the locals, as well as well-known music artists.

Years later, Hot Topic’s VP and General Merchandise Manager Cindy Levitt met Daang at an industry trade show. “We realized we have a very similar customer,” recalls Daang. “Hot Topic helped us bring Tripp to like-minded people all over the country.”

“It was no surprise to us that Daang’s designs were a huge hit for our customers – and they have continued to be over the years,” said Levitt. “We’re excited to see our customers’ reaction to what we think is an impressive collection that can only be found here at Hot Topic.”Royal Bones by Daang is available in all Hot Topic stores and online. The collection includes dresses, fashion tops and skinny jeans in a variety of colors and at a competitive price point.

Hot Topic is a mall- and web-based specialty retailer beloved by rebellious teens for more than 20 years. Hot Topic stores reflect the latest trends in music and pop culture, offering band-related apparel and accessories, licensed merchandise and fashion apparel and accessories to an edgy subculture of expressive individuals.

As Preen Return To London Fashion Weak

As Preen Return To London Fashion Weak

  
After six years showing at New York Fashion Week, London design duo Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi, will bring Preen’s next collection back to London Fashion Week.The fashion house known for strong colours and tailoring has been trending on Twitter since the announcement was made. Fashion Monitor, fashion journalist Jim Shi, Moda Operandi and everyone who’s anyone are tweeting about the exciting news. Celebrity fans of the London-based label include the amazing Scarlett Johansson, Claire Danes and American first lady Michelle Obama.

Thornton and Bregazzi met when they were just eighteen years old in their hometown of the Isle of Man, and opened their store on Portobello in 1996. A mere ten years after later, they were one of three labels nominated for a ‘British Designer of the Year Award’. After years of success showing in New York, they are returning home, and have said that they are, "delighted to be part of LFW again, it feels great to be back on our own turf." London Fashion Week is from the 14th to the 18th of December. Welcome back, Justin and Thea!