Viktor & Rolf dropping pret-a-porter

[ES3K]

After Jean Paul Gaultier another label is getting out of the pret-a-porter business (the news is only about the women's line, but I can't imagine that the men's collection is flying off the shelves either) and focussing on haute couture.

http://uk.fashionmag.com/news/Viktor-Rolf-jumping-off-the-ready-to-wear-bandwagon,461438.html

[mrbeuys]

And what's left of it is there just to support the perfume business...

[Faust]

Yep, but it was always that way. V&R ain't no Gaultier. They never sold clothes - they did some very creative things to make the brand and then perfumed the shit out of it. Smart. Gareth Pugh could take the same route if he cared. Question is, what are they going to do with their stores? Turn them into perfume emporiums?

[ES3K]

There's only one, but not for long:

the one and only Viktor & Rolf flagship store in the world, inaugurated at the end of 2013 in Paris at 370 Rue Saint-Honoré, will be closed in January 2016.

[Law]

Yep, but it was always that way. V&R ain't no Gaultier. They never sold clothes - they did some very creative things to make the brand and then perfumed the shit out of it. Smart. Gareth Pugh could take the same route if he cared. Question is, what are they going to do with their stores? Turn them into perfume emporiums?

Good point. Gareth Pugh as a brand is currently experiencing massive financial difficulties.

[Faust]

I'm not surprised if it's true. Gareth is a classic case of too much, too soon.

[Law]

I'm not surprised if it's true. Gareth is a classic case of too much, too soon.

Last I heard from first hand testimony, he had up to 16 interns working (re: slaving) for him at any given time, as he couldn't afford to hire full time staff. Non of the interns were compensated financially, nor were they even given a basic per diem allowance per day.

[Chinorlz]

Although Gareth was way more into art/production, it reminded me of that young (Canadian?) designer that blew up for a little while... I can't remember his name but he took a photo of himself facing the camera dressed like Karl and had a decently distinct silhouette with his designs including some wedge type footwear...

[Shucks]

u mean rad hourani?

i'd be super sad if gareth pugh closed up shop. not that i ever buy his stuff though, but i wish more women did. it's pretty badass...

[Chinorlz]

u mean rad hourani?

i'd be super sad if gareth pugh closed up shop. not that i ever buy his stuff though, but i wish more women did. it's pretty badass...

ah yes! Rad is the guy. Oh wow, he's still producing stuff. Does anyone actually carry him though? $300 graphic tees...

Gareth definitely has the talent from what I've seen. The difficult part in a creative field is successfully converting that talent into something that is business viable in the long run. Too many talented people out there that don't have the support (or aren't willing/able to compromise their vision) to do this.

[Faust]

Rad comes from a wealth Iranian family. He just likes to play at fashion. Gareth, I think, needs to work for a living.

[Law]

ah yes! Rad is the guy. Oh wow, he's still producing stuff. Does anyone actually carry him though? $300 graphic tees...

Gareth definitely has the talent from what I've seen. The difficult part in a creative field is successfully converting that talent into something that is business viable in the long run. Too many talented people out there that don't have the support (or aren't willing/able to compromise their vision) to do this.

1st ever designer to be commissioned to do a unisex couture collection correct?

[radio-aktivität]

There's only one, but not for long:

wasn’t there one in Milan, with everything upside down?

OK, while typing I googled a little and found this:

http://www.khaleejesque.com/2013/03/art-design/viktor-rolfs-upside-down-store-in-milan/

too bad, I found the idea kind of refreshing. not my taste, but a pretty funny idea.

[Chinorlz]

Rad comes from a wealth Iranian family. He just likes to play at fashion. Gareth, I think, needs to work for a living.

Ah the old wealthy-family-so-i-can-do-something-that-makes-me-look-cool-but-fundamentally-is-not-actually-financially-viable-but-hey-I'm-young move. Classic in "fashion" as well as "music." Seen all too often these days.

[Shucks]

wasn’t there one in Milan, with everything upside down?

OK, while typing I googled a little and found this:

http://www.khaleejesque.com/2013/03/art-design/viktor-rolfs-upside-down-store-in-milan/

too bad, I found the idea kind of refreshing. not my taste, but a pretty funny idea.

yeah it actually was a pretty disorienting experience to visit. then it was turned into a michael kors store, i think.