Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Coster Copenhagen
women to bring the yarn to their home towns where they knit the brand’s designer sweaters. Each of the exclusive sweaters, which can only be produced by hand-knitting, has the hand-knitter’s Chinese signature on a label in the neck. Though changing the work process in China was difficult, Pia Coster hopes to set up similar projects with other suppliers. “We are very aware of how our suppliers work and always discuss with them if there are any areas where we can help make things better or easier for the workers,” stresses Coster. Exclusive quality at reasonable prices Though Coster Copenhagen started out modestly in the Coster family’s living room in northern Zealand, the project’s potential became clear as soon as the first collection hit the market. Soon Pia Coster’s husband, Chris Coster, took over the firm’s administration and the brand moved to its current charming thatched domicile near the couple’s home. Today, Coster Copenhagen produces four yearly collections, traded in approximately 250 stores in 12 countries. The company’s success has, believes the designer, to a great extent been down to the brand’s high quality and reasonable prices as well as the fact that the clothes are very easy to
wear and style. “The clothes create an independent identity and do not need styling with an extra wardrobe of accessorises. They’re easy to wear and easy to understand. When you wear our clothes, they’re all it takes – you don’t need scarves, necklaces and extra blouses. The clothes have so many small and simple details, which are very important and which make the clothes complete in themselves.” Another factor is the brand’s focus on sourcing only the best quality materials; one of the major successes has been a basic-wear collection made from 100 per cent Merino wool. “Our basic programme runs throughout all the collections and is made of super soft Merino wool sold at the market’s most favourable prices. The way we have been able to do this, even though we are still a relatively small brand, is by convincing our suppliers that working with us is a good investment – and by testing all our products to make sure that the quality is good enough. It’s important for us to keep down the prices, but just as important to ensure that the quality is good,” explains Coster. Reflecting the beauty and rawness of the sea
Having spent long periods away from her own family, Pia Coster decided to help the Chinese women knitting Coster Copenhagen’s exclusive sweaters to move back to their families by allowing them to work from their home villages.
though it might not always be obvious at first sight. “Every morning, I take a walk along the coast with my dog, and the sea is a huge inspiration to me. This summer and autumn, the beauty of the sea will be reflected in the mix of textures and surfaces in the garments. The expression is a bit raw and fresh like a stormy autumn day by the sea,” she explains. With a mix of materials such as leather, laces, fur and, of course, hand-knitted wool as well as a variety of powerful, autumnal colours, Coster’s newest collections are ready to impress.
Living and working close to the sea is another defining factor in Coster’s work, al-
Designer Pia Coster lives and works close to the sea, which provides a large part of the inspiration for her successful fashion brand Coster Copenhagen.
For more information, please visit: www.costercopenhagen.com
Issue 65 | June 2014 | 15