032 RIGHT NOW
Loft 261
More Northern Input
Designed in Hamburg, made in Europe – this is the slogan with which designer Katharina Hovman describes her fashion brand, which was launched under her name in 1992. The style of the textile design graduate is clear cut and figure-hugging; her pieces are always excellently crafted, using the finest materials available. These attributes of Katharina Hovman complement the portfolio of Beatrice Häberli-Fetz and her Loft 261 team perfectly. Maybe this can be attributed to the fact that the Zurich-based fashion agency was also founded in 1992, therefore has just as much business experience as Katharina Hovman, and is now one of the leading female outerwear agencies in Switzerland. It’s a perfect fit for a smaller label like Hovman, which has built quite a reputation in Switzerland during the last two years of this partnership. This is especially thanks to the customer portfolio of the Loft 261 team, which considers itself part of the Best Age (Baby-boomer) market segment. Hovman is the second fashion brand from the North; Loft 261 also represents the Danish label Kristensen Du Nord. Brands: Annette Görtz, apalaia, Hache, Hindahl & Skudelny, Katharina Hovman, Kristensen Du Nord, Rundholz Black Label, Sarah Pacini, Unechta Loft 261 Modeagentur AG, Zurich/Switzerland, info@loft261.ch, www.loft261.ch
Katharina Hovman enriches the “Urban Dressed” segment of Loft 261. In this season the focus is on blouses made of finest microfiber taffeta.
agen cies
With fluttering wings - Armedangels (pictured on right: Fritzi Könemann) is moving in with Moderaum Fischer (pictured on left: Lars Fischer).
Gabriela Kofler
The Featherweight Alternative
Gabriela Kofler experienced the impact animal rights initiatives can have on the textile market when dealing with angora wool. Videos of cruel rabbit plucking lead to a total collapse in demand. Therefore, the Salzburg-based fashion expert is thrilled to have added No.1 Como, a brand that offers padded jackets and a choice, to her portfolio. The customer can decide whether the desired jacket should be filled with real down or the new synthetic Special-Thermo stuffing that protects geese. The range of the offshoot of Blonde No.8 consists of 14 colours for each available style; all jackets are water resistant and have a two-way zipper. Additionally, the brand also offers a special limited edition every season. The purchase prices of the jackets range from 129 to 179 Euros. Gabriela Kofler believes this is a highly interesting price range. She embarks on a comprehensive tour of Austria twice a year to visit every customer and knock on the door personally to inspect every point of sale and chat with her clients, supply product training, and to organise goods exchanges. This is important in the Internet age, because you can only see how the business is run with your own eyes! Labels: Amorph Berlin, Arma Leder, Blonde No.8, Como No.1, C.P.Twentynine, Drakewood, Exit Brooklyn, Freds Bruder, Hotspot, Iheart, Rockstar & Angels Gabriela Kofler Agentur für Mode, Salzburg/Austria, gabriela@gabrielakofler.at, www.gabrielakofler.at
Save the down! The motto of the new jacket brand says it all. The customer can choose between real and synthetic down filling.
314 style in progress
Moderaum Fischer
Benefitting from Flat-Sharing At first Lars Fischer is clearly amused by the comparison, but it is quite apt. The Cologne-based cult label Armedangels is moving in with the one-man-show that is Moderaum Fischer. The two parties met at a trade show in Düsseldorf a while ago when their booths were located next to each other. Lars Fischer and Friederike “Fritzi” Könemann, the head of sales at Armedangels, got on like a house on fire. They suggested that it might be a good idea to collaborate at some point and now this time has finally come. Armedangels, which has its headquarters in the former cream manufacturing unit of 4711 (for anyone born after 1990: that was “the” Eau de Cologne of the post-war era), has decided to expand its distribution structure in the South and will move into the loft of the Lodenfrey Park. Lars Fischer is hoping for synergy effects and wants to offer the retail industry an opportunity to buy special products in a special atmosphere. So it’s a creative joint venture; it’s a kind of working partnership from which everyone can benefit. Labels: Barb’one, Fratelli Rossetti, Lucky Luca, Pure Après Moderaum Fischer, Munich/Germany, lars@moderaumfischer.de, www.moderaumfischer.com