Wow, that's HUGE news in my book. I love Dirk Schonberger - I think he is a brilliant designer, although his late work seems to be without much direction. Joop has been struggling a lot, as far as I know. It's virtually non-existent in the US. I hope Dirk can give them some boost.
http://fashionwiredaily.com/first_wo...le.weml?id=819
Joop Hires Dirk Schonberger as Creative Director
Godfrey Deeny
December 21st, 2006 @ 10:26 AM - Paris
Joop, one of Germany?s premiere fashion labels, has hired Dirk Schonberger to be its creative director.
Schonberger, a noted avant-garde tailor whose taut silhouette has
famously dressed Mick Jagger, is one of men?s fashion?s most novel
designers, a critically acclaimed talent.
Schonberger could not reached for comment, but well-informed
sources confirmed that he would start his new position on January 1,
2007. Nor did Joop?s CEO Lars Schoneweiss return calls to FWD, but
insiders insist that Schonberger already signed a long-term contract
earlier this week.
The designer will be responsible for women?s and men?s wear, jeans
and accessories at Joop, which is controlled by Jochen and Uwe Holy,
the brothers who formerly owned Hugo Boss. Wolfgang Joop, the founder
of house, quit the company at the beginning of the century after
disagreements with the backing Holy brothers.
The Holy Brothers also control Windsor, Strellson and the license to Tommy Hilfiger?s tailoring collection in Germany.
Schonberger?s most recent own signature collection was a Beat
Generation-inspired show staged in Paris this summer during the World
Cup. His previous showing was a sartorial tour of downtown Britain
where four black Vespas stood centre stage.
Schonberger was arguably the leader in the mega men?s wear trend of
using smoking jackets and tuxedos in a casual, nightclub and party
context. His take of sartorial meets savvy street chic has marked him
out as a unique designer in the world of men?s style. His career,
however, had suffered something of a hiatus, after the main investor in
his eponymous label, Belgium?s Anne Chabrol, scaled back her investment
in Dirk? s house.
Schonberger is understood to be keen to return the Joop collections
to the catwalk, a label which has largely skipped the runways in the
past few years.
However, in traditionally rational German manner, the new creative
director will not be rushed into the breach. His debut collection will
not be until fall winter 2008.