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Hollywood on Sylt Arqueonautas | The makers of Arqueonautas intend to make a sensational splash with their brand. With guest of honour Kevin Costner, they hosted a big bash to mark the launch of their online shop. Text: Nicoletta Schaper. Photos: Arqueonautas
The man and the dunes of Sylt: Kevin Costner is the new ambassador for Arqueonautas. The actor and singer is an environmentalist, which suits the brand image well. Since the late '90s, he has invested large amounts of money in technology designed to separate oil from water, for use during maritime disasters such as the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, where 32 of his machines were put into operation.
he Arqueonautas brand organised a glitzy and glamorous event last September. Special guest Kevin Costner came to Sylt to mark the launch of the online shop, attracting some 300 fans who flocked to see the celebrity perform with his rock/country band Modern West on the stage of the Sturmhaube bar and restaurant. Hollywood celebrity Costner and Arqueonautas seem like a perfect match. "Kevin is a very popular and likeable public figure, who loves nature, sports and the outdoors, and goes his own way." says Kai Wilhelm, Managing Director of the Kitaro Fashion Group. "We want to use his charisma to spread the word about Arqueonautas internationally and penetrate new markets, like Asia and North America." In addition to acting as the brand ambassador and donating one euro for every garment sold to help protect the world maritime heritage, Costner is a partner in the venture and has contributed to the design of the collection. "I like the story behind the
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brand," he says. "The team from Arqueonautas Worldwide recovers the cargo of endangered shipwrecks worldwide. And since I used to work as a fisherman myself and very much like to dive, I know what it takes when you're moving around underwater." Diving in the Java Sea. The new online shop marks another milestone in the recent success story of Arqueonautas. The brand is already 50 to 60 per cent ahead of plan, says Wilhelm, thanks in large part to widespread publicity in newspapers and lifestyle publications like Instyle and Brigitte, as well as diverse social media activities. The maritime sportswear brand is currently available at some 700 points of sale on the market, in German-speaking countries as well as in France, Canada, the CIS and the Benelux countries. The brand image is bolstered as well by four of their own stores: in D端sseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin and Hanover, along with a partner store in Dresden, which will
be followed in mid-February by another store on Sylt. Furthermore, Wilhelm says additional Arqueonautas stores are planned at popular international holiday destinations. Costner will maintain his ties to the brand in addition to his activities as a singer, environmentalist and, of course, actor. This year he will play in the new Superman film as the adoptive father of the popular superhero. And he is planning to go diving with Arqueonautas Worldwide this spring in Indonesia's Java Sea, where CEO Nikolaus Count Sandizell's team has found large quantities of Ming Dynasty porcelain dating back to around 1580. Arqueonautas. Founded in 2008, the brand is a member of the Kitaro Fashion Group in D端sseldorf. The Otto Group has a 74.5 per cent share in the company. Kai Wilhelm, who has a 25.5 per cent stake, and Klaus Jochums are Managing Directors of the company, which has 60 employees. In addition to Arqueonautas, other fashion brands carried are Kitaro and Jette Joop. www.arqueonautas.de