Friday, August 28, 2009

Brand profile : Alexander Wang

Further to our series of brand presentations, we continue with the rising star of Alexander Wang. 



In a few weeks, we will start the sales of Alexander Wang's spring summer 2010 collection, the third consecutive collection Blender Agency sell for the fashion world's latest darling. 



24 year old Alexander Wang might be the biggest young star in women’s fashion today. Wang is originally from San Francisco, but moved to New York when he was 18 to study at Parson’s and work as intern at Marc Jacobs and Vogue. After only a year at Parson’s he dropped out of school and launched his own brand that within 2007 grew to a full women’s line. Wang shows his collections at NY Fashion Week where the last runway shows have been styled by Erin Wasson.



The collections of Alexander Wang are pure, classic and luxurious, but definitely urban, surprising and mysterious. Some people go as far as stating that Wang has reinvented the cool girl. His expression might be best described as skatergirl turned model, and mixes sexy vs androgyny, feminine cuts with mixed-up proportions, and the result is playful and wearable. 



For their September issue, W Magazine has written a suggestive article on Alexander Wang; Kid Rocks: All About Alexander Wang (Picture above: W Magazine). 



Alexander Wang is available at fine retailers throughout Scandinavia. Please e-mail us at info@blender.as for more info.


Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Copenhagen Fashion Week


For the first time in Blender Agency's history, we did not attend one of the fairs at the fashion week in Copenhagen. Previously, we have exhibited at either Gallery Int. Fashion Fair, or CPH Vision, but this time around we hired ourselves a nice and tidy showroom. 


Located near Kongens Nyhavn, we had a prime location, and enjoyed one full week in wonderful Copenhagen. Just as important, our clients got to work in a calm and concentrated atmosphere. 


In true Blender style, we worked long hours, and stayed away from most of the temptations a fashion week offers. But, even we need food, so we took the opportunity to sit down with a few friends, among others, our pals at Our Legacy and Maria from Paris Texas.


The last week has been all about Oslo, doing sales to our Norwegian clients. In a week or so, we can finally relax for some days, before we are heading for Milan and Paris to do Alexander Wang, Helmut Lang, Vanessa Bruno and Marc by Marc Jacobs sales. 

Best.
BA

Monday, August 10, 2009

Hussein Chalayan for J Brand

J Brand and Hussein Chalayan have recently collaborated on a series of denim, which will be available through carefully selected retailers in Scandinavia. Style.com has just posted an interview with Mr Chalayan and Susie Crippen of J Brand, for you to get additional insight on the collab.



BA

Friday, August 07, 2009

Brand profile | Jack Spade



JACK SPADE began in a warehouse on Warren Street in 1996. It grew out of an idea that useful items, in this case bags, could be both utilitarian and stylish. We started using waxwear fabrics and heavy canvas to make a few bags for friends. Over time we received feedback on the bags, made changes, and developed a line of straightforward shapes. Then it occurred to us—why not sell bags to hardware stores and get feedback from people who really use utility bags? Our first JACK SPADE bag was sold to a hardware store in 1997. The distinct identity of JACK SPADE soon made apparent the need for a freestanding retail store. Opened in December 1999 at 56 Greene Street in New York’s SoHo neighborhood, the JACK SPADE store reflects the company’s aesthetic. The unique 500 square foot space houses sturdy men’s bags, clothing, accessories, books and curiosities.



Jack Spade is the latest addition to our brand family, and a very anticipated such, in terms of product quality, origin and brand image. In addition, Jack Spade complements the existing menswear portfolio of Common Projects, Our Legacy and Lyle & Scott. Their approach to fashion is almost impudently in line with the menswear trend of 2009, and we are certain their basis will help the brand to grow into a major menswear player for the future. 

Jack Spade was founded by Andy Spade, Kate Spade's husband. Head over to Interview Magazine for an interesting interview with Andy, a true creative business man, on his newly founded ad-agency. 



There are certain products that men everywhere turn to for reliability and inherent style. Military-issue chino pants, Timex watches, Lacoste shirts, Levi’s, oxford cloth shirts—all represent the proverbial “real McCoy.” Most were originally created 
to serve a purpose—chinos for the military, Levi’s for the workman, Lacoste shirts for the sportsman. Mass marketers have taken the concept of these items and produced lesser products for the sake of fashion. Remember when the only great chino pant you could buy was made of heavy canvas and sold exclusively in Army/Navy stores? Unfortunately, few of these originals still exist.



We’ve always appreciated companies like J. Press, Levi’s, Barbour and even Oxxford Clothing for being great companies that make useful items for men. The products these companies manufacture have style because the designs have a reason for being. With these products as inspiration, we created JACK SPADE. We want to return to this approach, once again offering men items that represent both honest, thoughtful design and practical purpose.



You will be able to purchase Jack Spade from the finest Scandinavian menswear dealer, from February 2010.