CALVIN KLEIN UNDERWEAR ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR THE 9 COUNTRIES MODEL COMPETITION
CALVIN KLEIN UNDERWEAR
ANNOUNCES FINALISTS
FOR THE “9 COUNTRIES, 9 MEN, 1 WINNER” MODEL COMPETITION
NEW YORK, NY & LONDON, U.K., March 1, 2010 – Calvin Klein Underwear, today announced the nine finalists of the “9 Countries, 9 Men, 1 Winner” pan-European male model competition.
Thousands of model hopefuls submitted their photographs through the competition website at 9countries9men.com or attended in-store casting events, which took place in selected stores across Europe with branded pop-up photo studios. Over 3,000 successful applicants made it to the judging process, and one finalist from each of the nine countries was chosen by a panel of judges. The prestigious panel included Calvin Klein Underwear model and actor Jamie Dornan, as well as Devon Parsons from Select Model Management, key members of the media and executives from Calvin Klein, Inc.
The “9 Countries, 9 Men, 1 Winner” finalists include:
England’s Laurence Cope, age 19;
France’s Mickael Melcher, age 22;
Germany’s Lenn Haberthaler, age 21;
Greece’s Nikos Douramanis, age 22;
Italy’s Carmelo Di Guardo, age 23;
The Netherlands’ Chiel Konings, age 20;
Russia’s Dan Miller, age 23;
Spain’s Luis Ansa Echegaray, age 24; and
Sweden’s Alex Bechet, age 23;
To celebrate the latest Calvin Klein Underwear’s steel product range – which consists of nine new color-ways, each representing the flag of one of the nine participating countries – the brand launched a pan-European male model search in August 2009, to find one man from each of the nine countries – England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Spain and Sweden – who embodied the attributes of the new line.
The nine finalists will be introduced during appearances at participating Calvin Klein Underwear stores across Europe, as well as via the competition website, 9countries9men.com. The winner will be chosen by public vote in March and April, via the website and in-store voting and will be announced in May 2010. The winner will receive a one-year modeling contract with Select Model Management, as well as a luxury trip for two people to South Africa. The other eight finalists will each receive a one-year supply of Calvin Klein Underwear.
To commemorate the final phase of the “9 Countries, 9 Men, 1 Winner” competition, Calvin Klein Underwear will launch a new Global X product offering, which will arrive in stores beginning March 2010. Celebrating geographical pride and diversity, Calvin Klein Underwear Global X is a new range of underwear and tops in cotton/modal/spandex that combines national colors together with bold graphics and our legendary great fit.
For further information and to place your vote visit www.9countries9men.com
Advertising, Brand events, Fashion, People Behind the Scenes and Retail events
LONDON FASHION WEEK: BALLY & CENTRAL ST MARTINS SHOE COLLABORATION
London Fashion Week: Bally and Central St Martins Shoe Collaboration
In 2009 Bally tasked 15 students, selected by Louise Wilson from both the 1st and 2nd year of Central St Martins MA Fashion Design Course to submit women’s shoe designs to Bally. Out of the original 15, Bally and Central St Martins jointly selected 5 students to have their work developed at Bally’s workshops in Florence, Italy and Caslano, Switzerland - the results were on display to the press yesterday, 23rd Feb, at Browns Hotel, London.
Working from a brief that asked them to create designs with high editorial value and a strong feeling of luxury each student’s work focused on accentuating a different part of the foot. All 5 students Estefania Cortes Harker, William Hendry, Frida Hofslagare, Stephanie Turner and Charles Youssef were on hand to show off their shoes and talk about their inspiration.
And, news of the collaboration spread quickly across town – our favourite fashion bloggers and tweeters wasted no time in acknowledging the highly creative talents of the group.
See more images on our Facebook Page
Brand events, Fashion, London Fashion Week and Product events
LONDON FASHION WEEK: PRINGLE OF SCOTLAND AW10: ARTIST TALKS
London Fashion Week: Pringle of Scotland: 195 Collaboration Talks
195 Collaboration Talks
As part of Pringle’s 195 year celebration this morning Julia Peyton-Jones, Serpentine Gallery Director presented the 195 Collaboration Talks at the Serpentine gallery to unveil collaborations with various Scottish artists, all inspired by Pringle garments, patterns and styles, focusing on the iconic twin-set.
Scotsman Waris Ahluwalia, Scot-rockers Franz Ferdinand and Turner Prize winners Richard Wright and Douglas Gordon are still working on their twinset, with Gordon promising a flesh-toned piece which would duplicate in intarsia patterned cashmere the tattoos that litter his torso.
Expect twinset from Colette’s Sarah Lerfel and Corso Como’s Carla Sozzani as well.
Each twinset will have a limited quantity of 195 pieces. The project plans to donate all proceeds from the collaboration to the gallery’s public and educational programs.
PARIS - MENS - AW10 - MARGARET HOWELL - MAD RUSH OF JOURNALISTS
Mad rush of UK and French journalists - all loving the collection.
We see Gareth Scourfield, Senior Fashion Editor at Esquire, picking his favourite jumper from the collection…... as was Stephen Morriss, Freelance Stylist and Writer loving the Goretex jacket.
Mark Flemming, Head of Marketing and Communication at Margaret Howell in deep discussion about the collection with Catherine Hayward, Fashion Director at Esquire. And Ben Reardon, Editor of i-D, kindly modelling the press gift (knitted neck piece) and showing his feelings for a hobnail boot (from the collection).
Brand events, Fashion and Paris
PARIS - MENS - AW10 - SETTING UP THE MARGARET HOWELL PRESENTATION
The Margaret Howell Collection leaves London for Paris. Dave, the driver, delivers the collection into the hands of Toby Clark, menswear designer Margaret Howell. The Looks are being prepared for the presentation on Sunday.
MILAN - MENS - AW10 - DAVID SHRIGLEY’S FILM FOR PRINGLE
Ok, so this is one of our fashion clients, so we could be a little bias… however we were gripped this morning, raised to the front of our seats (front row of course) and compelled to laugh out loud.
This artist, not only has he produced a fine short film but has helped to add to the Pringle collection a creative argyll knit, and for London watchers, you will be able to see this in the windows of the Pringle New Bond Street store during London Fashion Week in February.
Brand events, Fashion, Front Row Talk, Julian Vogel, London Fashion Week, Milan, Modus Loves and Runway Shows
Akris SS10 Press Day
After long weeks and hard work, the final Modus Press Day is now complete -and what a great note to finish on at Akris where invited guests previewed the Spring Summer 2010 collection
Akris’s signature statement was very apparent within the Spring Summer 2010 line alongside a new ‘sportif’ theme which was received tremendously well by the UK fashion press who attended.
The Old Bond Street boutique was transformed into a tranquil minimalistic bliss with key pieces displayed throughout the upper level of the store. Akris’s seasonal look of sexy conservatism was apparent with deep V necklines, open backs and sharp architectural tailoring, but what everyone was talking about was the exclusive first collection of Akris bags.
Fine workmanship, meticulous detail, everything we have come to expect from the brand and nothing less.
Carl Marshall
Fashion and Brand events
Salvatore Ferragamo - Blue & Joy Exhibition
To celebrate the beginning of the Frieze Art Fair, Ferragamo teamed up with artists Blue & Joy AKA Fabio La Fauci and Daniele Sigalot to showcase a collection of their work.
The Salvatore Ferragamo Old Bond Street store was turned into a mini art gallery on Thursday the 15th of October. Check out the bespoke button masterpiece created using 35,000 Salvatore Ferragamo vintage buttons.
Who says fashion isn’t art? If you fancy a slice of the stylish action you can purchase the art in store from the 15th of October, or why not check out the art for yourself from the 16th of October when the exhibition is open to the public.
Georgina Goodman SS10 - No Rainbows Without Rain
The pain caused by my own too-tight-for-comfort vintage boots was temporarily forgotten about at the mere sight of the new Georgina Goodman S/S ‘10 collection. As I strolled into 44 Old Bond Street for a sneak preview, I was surrounded by a rainbow of metallics, heels higher than Everest, classy flats and updated versions of classic Goodman’s.
Cynthia and Louisa at Georgina Goodman described the new collection as a mixture of “graffiti pop and graphic heels with a feminine silhouette”; the most-demanded of the day were the new ‘Duke’ style – black suede T-bars with lime green python detail.
Other notable feet treats were the all-round favourites back in full force – ‘Natalia’ reigns supreme in satin peach for Spring/Summer, as does A/W ‘09’s ‘Sister’ boot in new shades. Despite heels on the catwalk reaching mountainous heights, Cynthia and Louisa were bombarded with requests to try on the ‘Elvis’ sandals - proof that flats are most definitely the ones to be seen in. Breathe a sigh of relief girls!
The evidence points in only one direction - every fashionista in a pair of GGs will have a definite spring in their step come next season!
Hannah Brimson
+J Collection Launch - Jil Sander for Uniqlo
Thursday saw the much hyped launch of +J, the collaboration between minimalist style maestro Jil Sander and Japanese store UNIQLO. Following a five year hiatus from fashion, the designer created a 100-piece capsule collection aiming to merge her streamlined aesthetic with UNIQLO’s skill in creating affordable basics. London was first to see in the launch globally, with queues outside the flagship store snaking down Oxford Street from as early as 8am (including eager shoppers coming all the way from Scotland waiting patiently!). With fashion glossies hot under the collar in anticipation and countdown posters adorning the stores, expectations were high, and Sander did not disappoint.
The collection included men’s and women’s pieces, ranging from sharply tailored jackets to Sander’s signature monochrome accessories. With the rare opportunity to get their hands on high-end style without the price tag, visitors to the store snatched up must-have pieces as soon as they hit the shop floor.
And the +J collaboration doesn’t end here. With the news that designs are already complete for Spring Summer 2010, we can be sure that the covetable items from this collection won’t be the last. But get in line now, I predict a sell-out…
Laura Corrigan