Helmut Lang (fashion brand)
Industry | Fashion |
---|---|
Founded | Paris, France (1986 | )
Founder | Helmut Lang |
Key people | Dinesh Tandon (CEO) Peter Do (creative director) |
Owner | Fast Retailing |
Website | helmutlang |
Helmut Lang is a
Brand history
Helmut Lang, a fashion
At this time in the late 1980s and early 1990s, minimalist fashion was at its height. His clothes were made with very sharp lines and careful cuts, creating basic but extremely elegant silhouettes in high quality and often high-tech fabrics.[citation needed] His work has been compared to Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto for his sometimes austere, intellectual designs.
Lang is known for his
New York City
Lang moved to New York in 1997 and subsequently set up his company's headquarters in 80 Greene St. in
Style
Helmut Lang has consistently sold both men's and women's lines of clothing, kept under a single name and always presented in one fashion show. Underwear (1995) and jeans (1996) lines as well as
The runway show venues for the Helmut Lang label were switched from Paris (until 1998) to New York by Mr. Lang and back again to Paris by Prada (from 2002 to 2005). The collections/presentations used to be called séances de travail ("working sessions") by Mr. Lang.
Prada partnership
In 1999, Milan-based fashion house Prada acquired 51% of the Helmut Lang company in the course of a multi-brand strategy, which also included the acquisition of German fashion label Jil Sander.
After alleged disputes with Prada Group's
Acquisition by Link Theory
Prada Group was not successful with the brand and, on March 17, 2006, announced that, after losses over six years,
It was never expected that Lang himself would return to the label that bears his name, although Chikara Sasake, president and chief executive of LTH, gave to understand that if Lang "wants to come back, the door is always open".[7]
Helmut Lang brand re-launch
In May 2006, it was announced that Michael and Nicole Colovos, an American-New Zealand designer couple, who formerly had their own Los Angeles–based denim label Habitual, had been installed by Link Theory as
The Helmut Lang web site was re-activated at the end of 2006 and was fully launched in spring 2007. Mr. Lang, who now resides on Long Island of independent means, is said not to be involved in the label's re-launch in any way.[citation needed]
In February 2014, Michael and Nicole Colovos, after eight years of being creative directors, left the company.[11] The Colovos designed the 2014 Fall collection called Rough Terrain.[11]
In March 2017, it was announced that in lieu of a creative designer, Helmut Lang would re-launch with Isabella Burley, editor of the British youth culture magazine Dazed & Confused, as “editor in residence.”[12]
In January 2018, it was announced that Alix Browne would be appointed as "editor-in-residence," replacing Isabella Burley.[13]
In August 2018, the brand engaged in a series of layoffs after several years of profitability, with the aim to restructure the organization.[14]
In May 2023, the brand announced that New York designer Peter Do would become the creative director of Helmut Lang.[15]
Helmut Lang stores
Original stores (until 2005)
All of the original, art-inspired signature Helmut Lang stores that existed in Vienna, Munich, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Milan, Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo, as well as several stores-in-store in the Asian market, that existed between 1995 and 2005 have been closed. The last one to close was the Paris location in 2005.
New stores (after 2007)
In March 2007, Link Theory opened the first post-Prada signature Helmut Lang store in Tokyo's fashionable
In May 2019, the Melrose Avenue store in Los Angeles closed.[20]
As of May 2023, there are two operating brick and mortar Helmut Lang stores, one in Ginza, Tokyo, and the Meatpacking District in New York City, New York.[21]
Original fragrances
Three different
- Helmut Lang Eau de Parfum – 2000
- Helmut Lang Eau de Cologne – 2000
- Helmut Lang Cuiron (men's) – 2002
- Helmut Lang Velviona – 2001
References
- Specific
- ^ "Radical Advertising". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
- ^ Helmut Lang – New York Times
- ^ Helmut Lang – New York Times
- ^ The New York Times: Helmut Lang said to leave Prada in the latest industry departure The New York Times: Question for Prada: Now What? Vogue.co.uk: Has Helmut gone? Archived 2011-06-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "John Seabrook | Stories | The Invisible Designer: Helmut Lang". Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
- ^ Prada sells Helmut Lang to Japanese – Times Online
- ^ Helmut Lang's new theory – International Herald Tribune
- ^ A new Helmut line, of sorts – Print Version – International Herald Tribune
- ^ "FT.com – Link Theory sets turnround goals for Helmut Lang". Archived from the original on 13 April 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
- ^ "LTH FY06 Press Release" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
- ^ a b Feitelberg, Rosemary (25 February 2014). "Michael and Nicole Colovos Exiting Helmut Lang". WWD. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ^ Friedman, Vanessa (14 March 2017). "Who Needs Creative Directors?". NYTimes. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Breaking: Alix Browne named Editor-in-Residence at Helmut Lang". Vogue Paris. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Helmut Lang Pivots Strategy Amid Layoffs". The Business of Fashion. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ Chen, Cathaleen. "Helmut Lang hires Peter Do as new creative director". CNN Style. CNN. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ "Link Theory – Newly opened stores August 2007". Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ J'adore Couture Blog: New Doors The Wall Street Journal: After Three Year Hiatus, Helmut Lang Hits the Runway
- ^ The Shophound: The Return of Helmut Lang-ish The Fashion Informer: Hello, Helmut: Lang Opens Store in MPD
- ^ "Link Theory – Newly opened stores in May 2008". Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ "John Elliott's first stand-alone store opens in West Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ "HELMUT LANG". HELMUT LANG. HELMUT LANG. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ "Fragrances by Helmut Lang — Basenotes.net". Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ "Helmut Lang Perfumes and Colognes".
- General
- Link Theory sets turnround goals for Helmut Lang (Financial Times)
- Link-Theory fiscal year 2006 report (Link-Theory)
- WWD: Helmut Lang taps new designers (Link-Theory)
- Fashion Wire Daily: Prada to Flog Helmut Lang to Link Theory Holdings (Yahoo News)
- Helmut Lang's new theory (International Herald Tribune)