Archive for June, 2007
June 30, 2007 at 12:56 pm · Filed under Brand History
Brand history
The brand was launched in 1967 when Ralph Lauren, born Ralph Lipschitz, purchased the name from Brooks Brothers, the company he worked for at the time. In 1968 he started a line of men’s ties. By 1969 he had a boutique store within the Manhattan department store Bloomingdale’s. In 1971, Polo Ralph Lauren launched its first women’s collection and his first standalone store in Beverly Hills, California. Ten years later, in 1981, the brand went global with its first international store on London’s New Bond Street. The Polo Sport line came about in 1993.
The brand now produces clothing, accessories, fragrances, furniture, operates the restaurant RL in Chicago, and sponsors a Harlem cancer center in association with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The flagship store is located in the Rhinelander Mansion at 867 Madison Avenue at 72nd Street, also in New York City.
Ralph Lauren is one of the largest fashion designer/retailer in the United States, with sales almost reaching four billion dollars per year.
Polo classics
One of the most famous pieces in the Polo line is the classic polo short-sleeved knit shirt featuring the now-iconic Polo player on the left breast of the shirt. This shirt in particular became a fashion must-have in the 1980s with the preppy set. Other Polo classics include the cashmere cableknit sweater and the oxford cloth button-down shirt.
Brands
Since the inception of Polo in 1967, Ralph Lauren has created many other brands. They include:
Clothing for men
Purple Label: Launched in 1994, this is Ralph Lauren’s signature men’s line, with classic, traditionally British styling. It includes ready-to-wear suits, made by St. Andrew’s, sportcoats, dress shirts, sportswear, accessories, and footwear, as well as a collection of made-to-order suits, sportcoats, shoes, and exotic skin luggage, small leather goods, and jewelry. Purple Label is only available in Ralph Lauren stores and high-end department stores such as Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Black Label: Similiar in price point to Purple Label, Black Label for men tends to have a more modern, Italian cut to its suits, sportcoats, dress shirts, and sportswear, with higher armholes and a slimmer silhouette. Black Label is also only available in flagship Ralph Lauren stores and selected high-end department stores.
Polo Ralph Lauren: His first brand for men, and also the most widely available. Spans from tailored clothing (ready-to-wear and made to measure), sportswear, accessories (including luggage), small leather goods. Available at many department stores as well as Ralph Lauren stores.
Polo Denim: A relaunch of the Polo Jeans Co. line. Denim basics available online and in department stores.
Lauren Ralph Lauren: Basics and suiting, available primarily through outlet and discount stores.
Chaps Ralph Lauren: Similar to the Lauren brand, though with a slightly lower price point.
Clothing for women
Collection: The highest end clothing line for women (also carries a purple tag), as seen in his runway shows. Includes classic eveningwear, tailored blazers, outerwear, sportswear, handbags, and accessories.
Black Label: A modern, high-end casual and semi-formal line with prices just below Collection.
Blue Label: Similar in price point and styling to the Polo men’s line; has classic American styling.
Lauren Ralph Lauren: Less pricey versions of Blue Label styles.
Lauren Jeans Co.: The ladies’ version of the relaunched Polo Jeans Co. line. Denim basics available online and in department stores.
Pink Pony: A charity line of sportswear and accessories all carrying a pink Polo pony. A portion of the proceeds benefit cancer research.
Clothing for men and women
RLX: A technical sports apparel line, focusing on clothing and outerwear built for outdoor sports such as tennis, golf, skiing, sailing, and hiking.
RRL (Double RL): A denim and sportswear line that takes its influence from the American Southwest. Available in Ralph Lauren stores as well as several smaller Double RL stores.
Rugby: A brand launched in 2004 focusing on collegiate apparel with a similar look to the pricier Polo and Blue Label brands.
Home
Ralph Lauren Home: A luxury home furnishings and accessories line, including furniture (manufactured by Henredon furniture company), fabrics, tabletop, decorative accessories, bedding, and paint. Sold to the trade and in Ralph Lauren stores.
Lauren Home: An upscale carries only tabletop, accessories, and bedding. Sold primarily through department stores.
Polo Ralph Lauren also owns the retailer Club Monaco, which operates independently of his other brands within the PRL corporate structure.
Sports sponsorships
In 2005, Polo Ralph Lauren and the USTA signed a four year partnership making Polo the official apparel sponsor of the US Open through 2008. All on-court ball persons and officials will be dressed in specially designed Ralph Lauren apparel.
In 2006, Polo Ralph Lauren became the first Official Outfitter of Wimbledon, redesigning the outfits for ballboys, line and court judges and the Wimbledon logo was adapted for this purpose. Ralph Lauren’s Polo brand and style was used and a range of clothing for men and women was launched on 26th June.
The company also sponsors US professional golfers Tom Watson, Jonathan Byrd, Davis Love III, and Luke Donald.
June 29, 2007 at 9:52 pm · Filed under Brand History
7 For All Mankind’s Original Logo7 For All Mankind (often referred to simply as Seven or Seven Jeans) is a California-based designer jeans company founded by Michael Glasser, Peter Koral, and Jerome Dahan in 2000. The company is headquartered in Vernon, California.
7 for All Mankind began by designing women’s jeans. It later introduced a men’s jeans line in fall 2002, and its Children Denim Collection for boys and girls in fall 2005. In addition to jeans, 7 for All Mankind produces other clothing items such as skirts, shorts, and denim jackets. The brand is sold in over 80 countries including Western Europe, Canada, and Japan.
History
Michael Glasser and Jerome Dahan started the 7 for All Mankind brand in early 2000. The two partners brought in Peter Koral of L’Koral for financial backing. Dahan and Glasser, denim designers who had worked in the apparel industry for years, created the company in response to what they saw as a void in the contemporary denim market. Fashion denim had not been seen in the United States for over 20 years and the most popular style for apparel was baggy, street-inspired jeans. Focusing on women’s denim bottoms, the company enjoyed near-overnight success because of the fit, fabrics, washes, attention to detail, and the iconic swooping logo that adorned the product’s back pockets. A myriad of designer denim upstarts followed Seven in Los Angeles, making it the world center for casual fashion.
In December 2002, Dahan and Glasser left Seven for All Mankind and filed suit against Koral for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of oral contract in the California Superior Court in Los Angeles. In 2003, Glasser and Dahan launched Citizens of Humanity, another successful jeans company.
In their 2002 lawsuit, Dahan and Glasser claimed that Koral shortchanged them on profits and reneged on an oral agreement to separate Seven for All Mankind from L’Koral once it reached $12 million in revenues. In 2004, the jury ruled for Dahan and Glasser and advised that they receive $5.5 million in profits from 2001 and 2002 and pay Koral $600,000 for breaking the oral partnership agreement when they left in 2002. Judge Dunn threw out that finding and awarded $56 million to Dahan and Glasser, $50 million for their 50% take in the company plus $5.5 million in profits for 2001 and 2002.
In 2005, Peter Koral sold a 50% stake in the company to Bear Stearns Merchant Banking for between US$75 to $100 million. That same year, he hired Andreas Kurz, former president of international licensing at Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. as CEO. Kurz abruptly stepped down for unreported reasons in January 2006.
Designers
Seven jeans are often rather tight and low-rise–the company was largely responsible for popularizing the style and many products feature elements of distressing. Distressed denim is intentionally manufactured with rips, holes, or stains for the purpose of making it appear worn, or vintage. Seven’s proximity to Los Angeles makes the brand popular with celebrities and urban, fashion-conscious young adults.
7 For All Mankind’s design team includes Tim Kaeding and Larissa Noble, all of whom have worked extensively in denim design. During his four-year career with The Gap, Kaeding designed the women’s denim line and the 1969 premium label. He successfully contemporized the basic image using some of the best denims and laundries in the world. Prior to that, he designed exclusively for his private label, Timothy Kaeding, a high-end sportswear line based out of New York. Larissa Noble graduated from Parsons School of Design and worked as a costume designer in Los Angeles as well as on the design team for Ellen Tracy before joining 7 for All Mankind.
Brand
The 7 For All Mankind brand has strong recognition worldwide and is particularly well known among celebrities and fashion-conscious denim consumers. The 7 For All Mankind logo consists of a large, brushstroke-style numeral 7 with the words “for all mankind” written across it in a smaller, stylized script. This logo has traditionally been found on the inside back waistband of 7 For All Mankind’s denim products as well as sewn on to the back pocket. The 7 For All Mankind logo appears in various locations on other products such as footwear and handbags. In some European markets, the logo features a stylized pair of jeans as the background element rather than the numeral 7.
7 For All Mankind is sometimes mis-associated with the European-based denim brand “Seven7.” Seven7 entered the U.S. fashion denim market shortly after 7 For All Mankind, who subsequently challenged Seven7’s trademark in court. The case was eventually settled under confidential terms.
Apparel
7 for All Mankind jeans and related apparel are found primarily in women’s and men’s specialty stores, but are also available in upscale national retailers such as: Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Nordstrom.
The women’s line of jeans includes a variety of fits and washes such as: Bootcut, low-rise, A-pocket, straight, boycut, wide leg, flare, Dojo, Jagger, Colette, and Flynt. Just recently there has been a new fit named the “Roxy” fit, which is the new skinny jeans for women.
The men’s line includes: Bootcut, relaxed, Flynt, A-pocket bootcut, A-pocket relaxed, slimmy, slouchy and standard.
June 27, 2007 at 5:17 pm · Filed under Brand History
Patek Philippe & Co. is one of the most famous and expensive brands of wrist watches in the world. Patek Philippe is currently owned by the Eric Lee family. Many watch collectors regard Patek Philippe timepieces as the best in the world. Over the years, Patek Philippe watches have been worn by a number of notable individuals, including members of royalty, movie stars and tycoons. Albert Einstein was also a customer. The company is the only notable watch company that still makes all movements in house.
Antoni Patek started making pocket watches in 1839 in Geneva, along with his fellow Polish migrant Franciszek Czapek. They separated in 1844, and in 1845 Patek joined with the French watchmaker Adrien Philippe, inventor of the keyless winding mechanism. In 1851, Patek Philippe & Co was founded.
In 1868, Patek Philippe made their first wristwatch. They have also pioneered the perpetual calendar, split-seconds hand, chronograph and minute repeater in watches. The company has produced quartz watches in the past and even a digital wrist watch.
Patek is also the creator of the most complicated mechanical watch ever made, the Calibre 89, created for the 150th anniversary of the company in 1989. It holds 33 complications, including the date of Easter, a thermometer, time of sunrise, equation of time, sidereal time, and many other indicators. The Calibre 89 is also able to add a day to February for leap years while leaving out the extra day for every 100 year interval.
Patek Philippe produces a number of collectible watches. In the 150 year history of the company, they have produced approximately 600,000 timepieces in total - less than the annual production of Rolex.
Patek Philippe produced an ultra-complicated (with 24 functions) pocket-watch for Henry Graves 111, who entered into a friendly horological competition with James Packard, which resulted in the production of the watch which sold to Mr. Graves in 1933, and re-sold in December, 1999 for in excess of 11,000,000 U.S. dollars, the most expensive timepiece ever sold.
June 26, 2007 at 7:05 am · Filed under Brand History
Rolex is a Swiss manufacturer of wristwatches and accessories renowned for their quality and prestige, as well as their cost (from a few thousand to more than one hundred thousand U.S. dollars). Although a few watch brands are even more prestigious among collectors, watches are instantly recognizable status symbols. Indeed, Rolex is the largest single luxury watch brand, with estimated revenues of around US$ 3 billion.
History
Rolex SA was founded in 1905 by the German Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis. Contrary to popular belief, Hans Wilsdorf was neither Swiss, nor a watchmaker. Wilsdorf & Davis was the original name of what later became the Rolex Watch Company. They originally imported Hermann Aegler’s Swiss movements to England and placed them in quality cases made by Dennison and others. These early wristwatches were then sold to jewellers, who then put their own names on the dial. The earliest watches from the firm of Wilsdorf and Davis are usually marked “W&D” – inside the caseback only.
Hans Wilsdorf registered the trademark name “Rolex” in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland in 1908. The word was made up, and its origin is obscure. One story, which was never confirmed by Wilsdorf, is that the word “Rolex” came from the French phrase horlogerie exquise, meaning exquisite watch industry. Another is that the name was chosen to indicate movement when spoken in English.
The Wilsdorf & Davis company moved out of the United Kingdom in 1912. Wilsdorf wanted his watches to be affordable, but taxes and export duties on the case metals (silver and gold) were driving costs up. From that time to the present, Rolex has been headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, though the company owns facilities in other cities (Bienne, etc) and continents (North America, Asia, Australia, etc).
The company name Rolex was officially registered on 15 November 1915. It is thought this change was part of a drive to popularize wristwatches, which at the time were still considered a novelty largely for women (pocket watches were more common). Wilsdorf was said to desire his watch brand’s name to be easily pronounceable in any language. The company name was officially changed to the Rolex Watch Company during 1919. It was later changed to Montres Rolex, SA and finally Rolex, SA.
Rolex SA is a foundation initiated and originally funded by Hans Wilsdorf and the Aegler family. According to foundation documentation, the Rolex SA company can never be sold, nor traded on any stock market.
Other innovations
The Rolex Submariner Date Professional
Among the company’s innovations are the first waterproof watch case; the first wristwatch with a date on the dial; the first watch to show two timezones at once; and most importantly the first watchmakers to earn the coveted chronometer certification for a wristwatch. To date, Rolex still holds the record for the most certified chronometer movements in the category of wristwatches.
Another little known fact is that Rolex participated in the development of the original quartz watch movements. Although Rolex has made very few quartz models for its Oyster line, the company’s engineers were instrumental in design and implementation of the technology during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1968, Rolex collaborated with a consortium of 16 swiss watch manufacturers to develop the Beta 21 quartz movement used in their Rolex Quartz Date 5100. Consequently, after five years of research, design, and development, Rolex engineering efforts finally culminated in the “clean-slate” 5035/5055 movement that would eventually power the Rolex Oysterquartz - arguably the finest quartz movement that has ever been made.
The first self-winding Rolex watch was offered to the public in 1931, preceded to the market by Harwood which patented the design in 1923 and produced the first self-winding watch in 1928, powered by an internal mechanism that used the movement of the wearer’s arm. This not only made watch-winding unnecessary, but eliminated the problem of over-winding a watch and harming its mechanism. Rolex was also the first watch company to create a truly waterproof watch — another milestone from novelty to functional timepiece. Wilsdorf even went so far as to have a specially made Rolex watch attached to the side of the Trieste bathyscaphe, which went to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. The watch survived and tested as having kept perfect time during its descent and ascent. This was confirmed by a telegram sent to Rolex the following day saying “Am happy to confirm that even at 11,000 metres your watch is as precise as on the surface. Best regards, Jacques Piccard“.
Rolex has also made a reputation in watches suitable for the extremes of deep-sea diving, aviation and mountain climbing. Early sports models included the Rolex submariner, Oyster Perpetual Sea Dweller 2000 (in 1971). This watch featured a helium release valve, co-invented with Swiss watchmaker Doxa, to release helium gas build-up during decompression. Another sports model is the Rolex GMT Master II, originally developed at the request of Pan Am Airways, to assist pilots in transcontinental flights. The Explorer and Explorer II were developed specifically for explorers who would navigate rough terrain — such as the world famous Everest Expeditions.
On the more glamorous side, Ian Fleming’s James Bond character wore a Rolex Oyster Perpetual in the series of spy novels. In the early EON production Bond films, Commander Bond wore a Rolex Submariner. However, for the Bond films starring Pierce Brosnan and the film with Daniel Craig, James Bond’s standard issue watch is an Omega Seamaster. This is due in part to Omega being open to jointly promote their association with the films’ producers.
In a famous murder case the Rolex that a victim wore on his wrist eventually led to the arrest of his murderer. When a body was found in the English channel in 1996 by a fisherman who caught the body, and the 4.5 kg anchor attached to it through the victim’s belt, in his net about 10 km from the English coast,a Rolex wristwatch was the only identifiable object on the body.Since the Rolex movement had a serial number and was engraved with special markings every time it was serviced, British police traced the service records from Rolex, and Ronald Joseph Platt was identified as the owner of the watch and the victim of the murder. In addition British police were able to determine the date of death by examining the date on the watch calendar and since the Rolex movement had a reserve of two to three days of operation when inactive and it was fully waterproof, they were able to determine the time of death within a small margin of error.
Watch models
The highly sought after 116520 stainless steel Rolex Daytona.
Rolex SA has three watch lines: Oyster Perpetual, Professional and Cellini. Among modern Rolex Oyster watch models are the:
- Air-King
- Datejust
- GMT Master II
- Explorer
- Explorer II
- Submariner
- Sea-Dweller
- Daytona Cosmograph
- Day-Date
- Oyster Perpetual
- Yacht-Master
The stainless steel Daytona has become one of the most sought after watches of all time. Dealer waiting lists can run from three to seven years and there are reports of collectors paying up to $15,000 for the privilege of owning this exclusive watch, though it is not uncommon for jewellers to rake up the profits themselves by buying the watches and selling it on, hence it is rumored that Rolex has dropped the infamous waiting list.
The primary bracelets for the Rolex Oyster line are named Jubilee, Oyster and the President. Rolex “dressy” watches are from their Cellini line. The third brand in the Rolex empire is the less expensive, but high quality, Tudor brand. It was established by Rolex founder, Hans Wilsdorf, in 1946. While still sold in Europe and the Far East, the Tudor line was discontinued in the United States as of 2004.
Rolex is the largest manufacturer of swiss made certified chronometers. In 2005 more than half the annual production of COSC certified watches were Rolex.
Rolex counterfeits
A replica Rolex Daytona watch bought on the streets in New York City. Notice the difference with this watch and the genuine Daytona above.
Like many high-priced, brand-name accessories, Rolex watches are often counterfeited and illegally sold on the street and the internet. These fakes are mainly produced in Asian countries such as India and mainland China (EU figures show that 54% of fakes seized in 2004 originated in China),and retail anywhere from $5 upwards to $1000 — for high end replicas fabricated in solid gold. By some accounts, over 75% of all replica watches produced annually are copies of Rolex Oyster Perpetual designs. These watches have been nicknamed “Folex” or “Fauxlex”. These watches are also nicknamed “Trolex” in Spain (trola means fake in Spanish)
June 24, 2007 at 6:33 pm · Filed under Brand History
Dolce & Gabbana (pronounced dol-che gabb-an-a) is a high-end fashion house started by the Italian designers Domenico Dolce, born near Palermo, Sicily, and Stefano Gabbana, born in Milan, Italy.
Dolce & Gabbana are very popular for their designs in the Hollywood industry; they have designed clothes for Madonna, Monica Bellucci, Ayumi Hamasaki, Isabella Rossellini and Kylie Minogue amongst others. The company is based near Milan (Legnano). The private life of Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce became public in 2005, when they officially announced their separation. The company, however, will still stay the same, and they will continue to design together.
Clothing and accessories product lines
Dolce & Gabbana is organized into two central lines for adults: D&G and Dolce&Gabbana. D&G generally forms the group’s more casual lines with slightly cheaper prices and follows an urban inspiration. D&G follows the trends of culture of the time and is trend-setting, whereas Dolce & Gabbana centralizes on luxury materials and is slightly more expensive than the former. The line does not change as much as D&G, and is influenced by sartorial designs, it is described as “timeless” by Dolce&Gabbana. Dolce&Gabbana purses have an exclusive stamp on the inside.
Both lines offer beachwear, underwear, eyewear (ophthalmic & sunglasses) and fragrances. The D&G line also carries the jewelry and timepieces.
D&G Junior is a separate line aimed at children under the age of 13. D&G Junior follows the ethos of D&G and embodies youth and fun with the styles of its clothes. Each season follows a set-named trend for a season and is named separately for boys and girls. The line contains clothes aimed at different ages of children. D&G Junior is more visibly influenced by popular culture compared to D&G, such as the Ibiza line of D&G Junior.
In 2005, the designers teamed up with Motorola for the first time to produce a Special Edition Gold RAZR V3i which was limited to 1000 phones and distributed by D&G boutiques and major Motorola retailers. This collaboration was renewed in 2006 for another release.
Controversy
Dolce & Gabbana was publicly criticized by Britain’s advertising watchdog Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in January 2007, for an advertising campaign showing models brandishing knives.
In February 2007, Dolce & Gabbana pulled an advertisement in Spain, which showed a man holding a woman to the ground by her wrists while a group of men look on, following complaints from consumers’ groups. Spain’s Labour and Social Affairs Ministry branded the campaign as illegal and humiliating to women, saying the woman’s body position had no relation to the products Dolce & Gabbana were trying to sell. Italian publications followed suit, banning the ad.
References in pop culture
Dolce & Gabbana, like many other upmarket designers, has recently gained in popularity especially among artists of such genres as R&B, Rap, Hip Hop, and Pop. The most prominent reference to date is probably the 2005 song My Humps by the Black Eyed Peas. Other examples of Dolce & Gabbana being featured in pop culture include the Sex and the City TV series and the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada, both having a strong fashion theme. The brand was also mentioned in Madonna’s 1991 documentary Truth or Dare.
Dolce and Gabbana Today
D&G have a couple of stores in the U.S. including New York, Beverly Hills, Bal Harbour, Short Hills, and Manhassat. D&G are to open a new boutique at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel opening in Boston in 2008.
Dolce and Gabanna had their own very unique design, and this trend setting design earned them a group of dedicated fans that were repeat buyers. The buyer of D&B can be anything from hollywoods elite to a suburban grandmother, it comes in all tastes and is luxurious and fashionable.
Dolce and Gabbana expanded their company and produced a fragrance the same year, and this fragrance did very well for itself — infact it was awarded a international prize as the best feminine fragrance of the year, and they were awarded this by the Perfume Acadmy!
Dolce & Gabbana dabbles in some of the most racey and sometimes risky styles, and has a group of followers unlike any other brand. They are known for the cutting edge and inspiring fashion, making beautiful and high quality shoes and clothing as well as many other products. Dolce and Gabbana is very new to the fashion world when in comparison to most high end companies, and what we have seen so far is only the begining.
June 23, 2007 at 9:30 am · Filed under Brand History
Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) is a U.S. jewelry and silverware company founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young in New York City in 1837. Tiffany & Co has since opened stores in major cities all over the world.
Diamonds
Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Co., was dubbed “the King of Diamonds” by New York City newspapers. In the spring of 1887, Tiffany bought the French Crown Jewels.
Tiffany designs were worn by such famous US families as the Astors, the Vanderbilts, and the Morgans. Athletes, Hollywood stars, and even European royalty adored these diamonds. Museums valued the Tiffany designs, which ranged from the Art Nouveau period to Art Deco to today’s modern styles.
The 128.54-carat Fancy Yellow Tiffany Diamond is usually on display in the New York City flagship store.
Flagship Store
Their current flagship store (since 1940) is located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th street in Manhattan, New York City. It’s polished granite is well known for their tiny window displays.
Tiffany’s in popular culture
* The flagship store is prominent in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, starring Audrey Hepburn.
* In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes starring Marilyn Monroe, Tiffany’s is mentioned in the song “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”.
* The song “Hotel California” by the Eagles contains the lyric “her mind is Tiffany-twisted…”.
* The New York jewelry store was shut down when Sweet Home Alabama was shot inside. The store was not shut down, however, during any of the filming of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
* Tiffany boxes, bags and other items sport the Tiffany Blue color, which is a registered trademark.
* The first Tiffany catalog, known as the “Blue Book”, was first published in 1845 and is still being published.
* In 1853 Charles Tiffany took control of the company and renamed it Tiffany & Co.
* In 1862 Tiffany & Co. supplied the Union Army with swords, flags and surgical implements.
* In 1867 Tiffany & Co. was the first U.S. firm to win an award for the excellence in silverware at the Paris Exposition Universelle.
* The company revised the Great Seal of the United States in 1885.
* A Tiffany’s gemologist was instrumental in the international adoption of the metric carat as a weight standard for gems, and the Tiffany standard for sterling and platinum have been adopted as United States Standards.
* In 1968, U.S. First Lady Lady Bird Johnson commissioned Tiffany to design a White House china service, which featured 90 flowers.
* Tiffany & Co.’s business division also produces trophies. In addition to a number of standard designs, they have also produced custom trophies including:
o The World Series Trophy (Major League Baseball)
o The Nextel Cup Trophy (NASCAR)
o The Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy (National Basketball Association)
o The Vince Lombardi Trophy (National Football League)
o The Central League Trophy (of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball)
o The FedEx Cup Trophy (PGA Tour)
June 22, 2007 at 12:02 am · Filed under Brand History
Began in 1918 when Adele Casagrande opened a leather and fur shop in Via del Plebiscito in central Rome. When Adele married Edoardo Fendi in 1925, they made a decision to change the name to Fendi. The business prospered, and a new shop was opened in Via Piave in 1932. By 1946 Paola, 15, the eldest of the couple’s five daughters, went to work for the firm, followed by her sisters Carla, Anna, Franca, and Alda.
In 1965 a marriage between the Fendis and German designer Karl Lagerfeld was sealed, and it proved to be fortuitous for both. Lagerfeld immediately created the inverted FF logo that joined the growing list of international status symbols, and then set about, aided and abetted by the sisters, to revolutionize the treatment of fur and other clothing.
What had once been a precious but stiff and heavy garment was transformed into a light, soft, easy-to-wear and above all flattering outfit. The team went on to invent new ways of working with fur, tanning, dying, and treating, and took previously unused skins and turned them into fashionable garments. By 1966 Fendi had presented its first couture fur collection, designed by Lagerfeld. It was an immediate success with foreign buyers. Marvin Traub, president of Bloomingdale’s, discovered Fendi’s leather goods and introduced them to the United States. Other outlets soon followed, and today Fendi is largely represented through high-end department stores.
In 1969 Fend presented its first ready-to-wear fur collection at Palazzo Pitti in Florence, bringing continuously evolving techniques and imaginative designs to lower-priced furs without sacrificing quality. When the sisters could not find the fabric clothes they wanted to show under the furs their ready-to-wear line was born, again to great success.
The company’s accessories are now found on the arm of many stars and signature bags such as the Spy, buckled B-bag, and embellished bucket bag are often in high demand sometimes creating long waiting lists.
Fendi lines
Fendissime
This “young” line (akin to Prada’s Miu Miu line) was formed by Karl Lagerfeld in 1962 in cooperation with input from the five daughters. It is now discontinued.
Writing Instruments
Fendi licensed their name and logo to Cross Pens in 1989. As of 2000, Cross was no longer producing writing
Timepieces
Fendi currently licenses out their name for their watches, which feature Swiss movements.
Fragrances
Fendi launched its first perfume, Fendi for Women, in 1985. The line has been expanded to Theorema Uomo and Fendi Uomo (for men) and Celebration and Fantasia (for women).
Eyewear
Fendi’s eyewear line currently includes prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses in addition to non-prescription sunglasses.
The Double F Symbol
Commonly referred to as the “Zucca” print in its original form and “Zucchino” in its smaller style, Fendi’s iconic “double F” logo pattern was first designed by Karl Lagerfeld in the 60’s. It has been used on a variety of Fendi products, including handbags, wallets, luggage, shoes, and apparel. Kanye West once appeared at a party with the logo shaved into his head.
Furs
Fendi’s internationally renowned line of fur helps to differentiate the brand from its competitors as one of the few designers with a full range of fur offerings. Naomi Campbell was fired from her position as a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals spokesperson in 1997 for wearing fur at a Fendi fashion show. Elizabeth Hurley wore a red Fendi coat in the 2000 film Bedazzled, costaring Brendan Fraser.
Prêt-à-Porter
This includes all of Fendi’s clothing sold off-the-rack at department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Fendi Casa
Fendi’s newest brand offering a wide variety of home furnishings. Furniture, sofas, armchairs, poufs, chaise-longues, consoles, day-beds: items of everyday life seen, interpreted, and lived with the typical Fendi style and culture. Above all this there is one common denominator: the home seen once more as the heart of a lifestyle, small pieces of furniture acting as a support for the most immediate and practical needs and more significant pieces to be personalised according to the taste. Great attention is paid to the past while tending towards the future, with considerable concern for evolution in modern design, which is interpreted, enjoyed and shared in the spirit of today’s culture. And so we find objects for the home distinguished first of all – as is the entire creation of Fendi - for their fine quality: great care and attention in the choice of fabrics and their combinations, and in the “mix” of materials which creates new forms. All this together with the craftsmanship and attention to detail, the careful working and hand finishing, the personality which is an integral part of Fendi style. And last but not least, that creativity and imaginativeness which come from research and experiment, a mood which extends from fashion to design through the creation of personalised and personalising objects.
June 21, 2007 at 11:50 pm · Filed under Brand History
Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy LVMH.PA is a luxury French fashion and leather goods brand and company, headquartered in Paris, France.
The company is named after its founder Louis Vuitton (August 4, 1821-February 27, 1892), who designed and manufactured luggage, as a Malletier during the second half of the nineteenth century. Vuitton was born in Jura, France (now part of the commune of Lavans-sur-Valouse), but moved to Paris in 1835. The trip from his home town to Paris was over 400 kilometers long, and he traveled by foot. On his way there he picked up a series of odd jobs to pay for his journey. Two years later, at the age of 16, he apprenticed for the luggage manufacturer Monsieur Marechal. In 1854 he founded the company, which is now owned by LVMH, a French holding company helmed by Bernard Arnault.
One hundred and fifty years after its eponymous founder began creating and selling trunks in Paris, Louis Vuitton’s signature leather goods are considered a status symbol around the globe and are highly regarded in the fashion world. The company’s iconic Monogram Canvas design can be considered the first designer label in contemporary history; the design was created in 1896 by Vuitton’s son Georges and was intended to prevent counterfeiting. Ironically, Louis Vuitton has become the most counterfeited brand in fashion history, with just over 1% of all items branded with the Vuitton logo not counterfeit.
The Louis Vuitton company has carefully cultivated a celebrity following and has used famous models and actresses in its marketing campaigns, most recently Uma Thurman and Scarlett Johansson. Other models and actresses who have lent their name to the Louis Vuitton line include Jennifer Lopez, Chloe Sevigny, Christina Ricci, Gisele Bundchen, Kate Moss, and Naomi Campbell. Hayden Christensen has also appeared as model for the company’s luggage and prêt-à-porter lines. The company commonly uses print ads in magazines and billboards in cosmopolitan cities.
Vuitton bags and purses have a considerable list of celebrity adherents who are frequently seen in tabloid and magazine photographs carrying the brand. Madonna, Beyonce Knowles, Lindsay Lohan, Kimora Lee Simmons, Ayumi Hamasaki, Jessica Simpson, Ashley Tisdale, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Angelina Jolie, Anna Kournikova, Pamela Anderson, Katharine McPhee, Carmen Electra, Mariah Carey, and Victoria Beckham are included in this list.
The Vuitton collection has also created a cult-like following among consumers. Owners of the bags and accessories often refer to the products as their “Louis.” This cult following by both celebrities and wealthy consumers has elevated the Vuitton brand to the foremost position in accessory design alongside houses such as Gucci, Prada, Fendi, and Hermès.
History
Early days (1854-1892)
1854 - Vuitton opens his first store in Paris on Rue Neuve des Capucines, founding Louis Vuitton Malletier a paris. Before his quality trunks, French philosopher, Denis Diderot & Jean Le Rond d’Alembert makes mention of a Malletier and his techniques about 140 years earlier. (1713-1784)[3]
Vuitton began by selling flat-topped trunks that were lightweight and airtight. All trunks before this had rounded tops for water to run off and thus could not be stacked, it was Vuitton’s gray Trianon canvas flat trunk that allowed the ability to stack for ease with voyages.
1860 - Vuitton opens a larger factory in Asnières-sur-Seine to accommodate increased demand.
1867 - Vuitton enters the Universal Exhibition at the World’s Fair in Paris, winning the bronze medal.
1872 - Vuitton creates a red and beige striped canvas, which he uses to line the interior of his trunks.
1876 - Vuitton creates the wardrobe trunk, which contains a rail and small drawers for storing clothing.
1880 - Vuitton’s son Georges is married and (on the same day) is given control of the business. Georges is credited with developing the unique five-number combination lock found on Vuitton trunks.
1883 - Georges’ son Gaston-Louis is born.
1885 - The first Louis Vuitton store in London opens.
1888 - The Damier Canvas pattern is created by Louis Vuitton in collaboration with Georges, and bears a logo that reads “marque L. Vuitton déposée,” which translates to “mark L. Vuitton deposited” or, roughly, “L. Vuitton trademark”.
1889 - Vuitton wins the gold medal at the World’s Fair in Paris.
1892 - Vuitton dies; the Vuitton company begins selling handbags.
Golden Age of Louis Vuitton (1893-1936)
1893 - Georges displays Vuitton products at the World’s Fair in Chicago and begins his campaign to make the company into a worldwide corporation.
1894 - Georges publishes his book Le Voyage.
1896 - Georges designs the Monogram Canvas. Its graphic symbols, including quatrefoils and flowers, are based on the trend of using Japanese and Oriental designs in the late Victorian era. This can be considered the first contemporary designer logo, as Georges is driven to create the pattern to prevent counterfeiting, which has already begun. The same year, Georges sails to the United States, where he tours various cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago. He sells Vuitton products during the visit.
1899 - Georges exhibits Vuitton products at the maiden Paris Auto Show.
1900 - Georges Vuitton is given the honor of setting up the Travel Items and Leather Goods section of the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris.
1901 - The Louis Vuitton Company introduces the Steamer Bag, a smaller piece of luggage designed to be kept inside Vuitton luggage trunks.
1904 - Georges chairs the jury for the St. Louis World’s Fair. The same year, the Louis Vuitton company introduces a new line of trunks that have special compartments for items such as perfumes, clothing, and other goods.
1906 - Georges’ son Gaston-Louis marries Renee Versille, and the company introduces trunks for automobiles.
1914 - The Louis Vuitton Building opens on the Champs-Elysees. This is the largest travel-goods store in the world at the time. Stores also open in New York, Bombay, Washington, London, Alexandria, and Buenos Aires as World War I begins.
1924 - The company introduces its iconic Keepall bag, a forerunner of the duffel bag. The bag is still made by the company today in four sizes; the smallest retails for US$855.
1929 - The company celebrates its seventy-fifth anniversary and expands its offering of custom-made items. It creates a toiletry case specially for opera singer Marthe Chenal, which can hold bottles, brushes, mirrors, powder boxes, and other toiletries.
1931 - Louis Vuitton introduces exotic bags, including handbags made from crocodile skin and elephant hide, and presents them at the Colonial Exhibition.
1932 - Louis Vuitton introduces the Noé bag. This bag was originally made for champagne vinters to transport bottles, and is currently sold as a handbag. Prices for this bag now begin at US$585.
1933 - The Louis Vuitton Speedy bag is introduc
