The Sinergy Files

By mariana Flores sosa d

PROENZA SCHOULER

Proenza Schouler is a New York based womenswear and accessories brand founded in 2002 by designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez. The duo met while studying at Parson’s School of Design, collaborating on their senior thesis, which became their first collection as Proenza Schouler. Named after the designers’ mothers’ maiden names, the collection was bought in its entirety by Barneys New York. Proenza Schouler is defined by its fusion of craftsmanship and attention to detail with a sense of refined ease. Inspiration drawn from contemporary art and youth culture is combined with an emphasis on tailoring and the use of custom developed fabrics. In 2008, Proenza Schouler launched its first handbag collection, including the PS1, a classic satchel that embodies a sense of wearable luxury that has become the brand’s signature. Proenza Schouler has played an important role in reinvigorating American fashion. Awarded with the inaugural CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund award in 2004, the emerging brand was established as a leading talent in the industry. Three years later, Proenza Schouler was honored with the 2007 CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Yearaward. In 2011, Proenza Schouler won their second CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award. Proenza Schouler is sold in over 100 of the most exclusive retail outlets worldwide, including Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Harvey Nichols,Colette, and Lane Crawford.

REFERENCES: PROENZASCHOULER WEB PAGE

upscale retail buyer. Then on September of that same year they presented its first complete runway collection during New York Fashion Week. Meticlous, romantic dresses with intricate hand-stitching as well as other old-world techniques that call to mind couture are what define this label. Rodarte was awarded the CFDA Swarovski Emerging Womenswear Designer in June 2008 and then awarded the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year Award in June 2009. With multiple awards, collaborations, and solo exhibitions, Rodarte has earned its appreciation in the fashion industry. The label is stocked globally by more than 40 premier retailers including Barneys NYC, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Opening Ceremony, Net-a-Porter, the Room at Hudson Bay, and Joyce. In addition the Mulleavy sisters have collaborated with Target and The Gap with limited edition pieces.

REFERENCES: RODARTE WEB PAGE

Rodarte

Rodarte is a brand of clothing and accessories founded by Mulleavy sisters in Los Angeles California in 2005. Both sisters graduated from UC Berkley in 2001 with a degree in Liberal Arts. Following their graduation they moved to Los Angeles and founded “Rodarte”, named after their mother’s maiden name. Their first collection consisted of 10 hand-finished pieces all meticulously constructed and artsy detailed and was featured on February’s 2005 cover of Women’s Wear Daily. Immediately after, Kate and Laura were flying to New York to show their collection to almost every major fashion editor and

VALentino

Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli were born in Italy and graduated from the Istituto Europeo di Design in Romes where they studied Fashion Design. Chiuri and Piccioli crossed paths at Fendi where they worked together for ten years and built a strong professional relationship. During this time they established their creative talent in the fashion world and defined their stylistic approach by designing some of the most memorable accessories for the label like the Baguette handbag. In 1999, Valentino Garavani personally approached Maria Grazia and Pierpaolo and asked them to create a line of accessories that could interpret the style of the Valentino house. The result was a fusion of styles that reflected Valentino’s tradition of exquisite couture details with innovation. Collections with matching bags, shoes, jewels, shawls, suitcases, as well as belts and eyewear became characterized by haute couture elegance and the signature of Valentino style. In 2003 the duo launched the younger REDValentino line. In September 2007, Monsieur Valentino decided to retire from the fashion world and Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli were appointed Creative Directors of the Valentino accessory lines. The following year the appointment was extended to include the men and women’s collections and in October 4th 2008 Grazia and Picioli became the Creative Directors of Valentino. The Roman duo’s synergy evolved Valentino’s ideal woman. Keeping the grace, delicacy and simplicity of Valentino, this duo has created a whole new concept for the atelier demonstrating tradition and innovation can coexist.

REFERENCES: VALENTINO WEB PAGE

KENZo

Carol and Humberto, both 37, were born in Los Angeles California and met as undergraduates at UC Berkeley in 1994. Carol received a degree in Economics while Humberto studied Visual Art and America Studies. After graduation both moved to New York where they remained close friends as they began their careers in fashion and retail, Leon at Burberry & Gap and Lim at Bally. On 2002 the duo decided to leave their jobs and follow their dream of traveling and discovering fashion and art around the world. During their journey, they were captivated by Hong Kong and the exuberant shopping experience of Asia and they decided to begin their own fashion retail concept, Opening Ceremony. What began as a single store on a quiet street in downtown New York is now a global community with outposts in New York, London, and Los Angeles, a department store in Tokyo, a wholesale showroom, an in-house clothing line, a blog, an e-commerce site, a TV channel, and an annual magazine. A couple years later on Summer 2011 Carol and

Humberto were named by LVMH ( Louis Vuitton y Moët Henness) the creative directors of Kenzo. The house had slowly dropped off the fashion map after Kenzo Takada (founder) retired in 1999,, becoming more known in the U.S. for its fragrances and skin-care products than for clothes. Using the brand’s DNA, the duo have given KENZO their take on the revolutionary spirit with which the brand was founded.. Benefited from not knowing “the rules” of fashion design, upon joining the Kenzo team, the pair has forced the Parisian atelier to break everything down to basics, creating a more open-plan style of working. Today, with the duo’s passion for spontaneity and fun, KENZO has a fresh attitude with respect for the heritage of the brand. In just over a year, Leon and Lim have taken the label from relative obscurity to must-have status. In July 2012 Carol and Humberto reintroduced the jungle to the Kenzo brand by collaborating with French artist Jean Paul Gaude and together created eye-popping ad campaigns for Autumn/Winter 2012. Humberto and Carol are members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and advisors to Parsons School for Design. Humberto is a member of the selection jury for the ANDAM fashion award in Paris. Fast Company Magazine elected Opening Ceremony as one of 'The World's 50 Most Innovative Companies 2011'. In 2010, Humberto and Carol won the President's Award for Excellence in Retail Innovation from The Academy of Art in San Francisco and Opening Ceremony won for Outstanding Brand Mix at the 2010 WGSN Global Fashion Awards.

REFERENCES: KENZO WEB PAGE, REFINERY 29 WEB PAGE

DOLCE & GABBANA