Mark Thomas is Joseph's new menswear head designer - the first position of its kind for the company, as it expands its menswear offering for autumn/winter 2014. Thomas most recently worked at Givenchy, where he headed up its menswear collection, but has also completed stints at Neil Barratt and Burberry.
"Joseph has huge menswear potential," Thomas told us. "At the moment, there are a few pieces and separates, but they feel like fill-ins almost. It's been great to have the opportunity to go into a collection where the direction isn't fully formed. At Givenchy, there was a clear direction which you had to follow. It's super exciting to be here."
Thomas has been working with the label's current creative director, Louise Trotter, to define its menswear. While its aesthetic is still in its developmental stages, it will carry the same signatures as its womenswear, with an emphasis on black and white pieces, infused with an Anglo-Franco sensibility. A play on masculine and feminine is also paramount, with the brand launching Joseph Iconics this season - a capsule line of unisex wardrobe essentials, including a peacoat, a leather jacket and boyfriend jeans.
"I'd be working on my men's and Louise would say, 'I love that, I want that for women's.' So that's what we did," said Thomas. "We just reduced the size; it's just like stealing from your boyfriend."
The brand is hoping to expand its customer base in the next coming seasons, as well as its stockists.
"This will be the first time we've offered our menswear for wholesale," said Thomas. "The womenswear is sold in lots of department stores, but not men. I hope that the boyfriend or husband of the Joseph woman will buy this collection, but also someone with a forward-thinking approach to fashion."
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