A little more relaxed toward the close of this working week for Mr Gower, as he lets his Nike collection take centre stage, or should that be centre pallet…
Day 5 / Nike Wardour Max
Q: What do you take into consideration when buying a new pair of shoes?
A: I never really consider anything if i like them i buy them and worry about my bank balance later!
Day 6 / Nike Flyknit
Q: Does a man have as much right to shoes as a woman?
A: Totally, I believe mens fashion is stronger now than its ever been. I notice myself how many men take fashion more seriously and buy into footwear a lot more as a statement not just for functionality.
Enjoy the journey of stepping in another mans shoes…
YSC - Your Samples Collective
Part 2 of our catch up with team Cotton Love, the duo behind the fantastic website that eliminates the hassle of rummaging through vintage sales by providing a clean and concise edit of menswear (womenswear and accessories too) that seems almost brand new…
Here we get to grips with the day to day workings of the business, and what’s in store for the future.
LAST YEAR YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FEATURE PRODUCT IN THE CONCEPTUAL POP-UP STORE ‘NOTHING BUT NAVY’ HOW DID THE OPPORTUNITY COME ABOUT?
Ruth was involved with the very first b-store, pop-up shop within Selfridges during the 08/09 A/W season. She contributed to the accompanying publication, ‘pop-in paper,’ the initial publication to which the b-magazine was born. Working with Jason Hughes and Dal Chodha (creative director & editor, respectively) she met Matthew & Kirk and worked with Matthew on another project focused around the growth of the male consumer.
Fast forward a few years and we randomly receive an order from Matthew, at the b-store Kingly street address, unbeknown to him that Ruth worked here. Things just ran from there really, b-store became OTHER/shop and, Matthew was really positive about/ and really ‘got’, Cotton Love. He then invited us to’ curate a corner’ within the NBN store, which proved a great success for everyone involved.
YOU’VE RECENTLY BECOME AN EXCLUSIVE RETAILER OF THE LIMITED EDITION SHOE COLLABORATION BY OTHER & T&F SLACK, CAN WE EXPECT YOU TO CONTINUE BUILDING YOUR NETWORK OF DESIGNER COLLABS?
Definitely, stocking the OTHER/ T&F collaboration shoe was a good, initial way to keep the alliance going between both companies, something which both the OTHER team and we were keen to continue. There is a mutual appreciation of each projects and vision and it helps that tastes are pretty similar.
Otherwise, we definitely intend on growing our network of designers, we are really meticulous with the labels and designers we approach as it is important that the labels share in our ethos, aesthetic and growth aspirations – we didn’t and don’t want to go after certain labels, that although aesthetically may fit perfectly but are sold in every major UK city and/ or a number of online sites nationally and internationally. – it would defeat the point of what we are about. We’re still growing and learning you can’t quite get the perfect label list straight away, as it doesn’t always make business sense but we are working on it.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON BUYING TRIPS?
Not as often as we’d like. We have a network of people we work with both nationally and internationally and as we hand pick everything, we need to be in several places at once. Europe is our main source, although we work with people as far flung as South America and Japan.
WAS IT A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO MIX THE NEW AND OLD FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE COTTON LOVE JOURNEY?
I’d say more subconscious, as both our customers and our own attitudes (towards vintage shopping), tastes and values changed, as well as attitudes towards consumerism on the whole, the labels selection just felt like the natural progression.
By introducing a considered selection of accessory labels, we are able to strengthen our brand message, aspirations and better represent our tastes – as well as show our edit of vintage in the company in which they deserve.
We also often get a lot of customers enquiring about a product we have used for styling, as well as the item for sale. More often than not looks were styled with items from our own wardrobes – so offering labels in which we admired and are in fitting with our aesthetic felt like the right thing to do, it’s how we wear vintage.
WHAT IS THE DNA FOR MAKING YOUR PRODUCT LOOK CONTINOUSLY FRESH OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE?
Attention to detail, passion & patience.
We know the cotton love customer and know what we like, we are not overly concerned with trends and seasons although we are of course aware of them, we are more about the integrity of the garment, whether it is, it’s previous function, detail or overall aesthetic which makes it unique and interesting.
WHAT IS AN AVERAGE DAY LIKE IN THE COTTON LOVE OFFICE?
There isn’t an average day, particularly at this stage where we are still growing and establishing the business in its’ current form. This week for example we have a meeting with a potential new label, model castings, new stock arriving, as well as everything else in which is associated with running an online business.
We are recruiting very soon, so Ruth and I can focus more on certain aspects of the business, perhaps then we will be more able discuss an average day.
FOLLOWING ON FROM 2012, WHAT IS IN THE PIPELINE FOR COTTON LOVE AS A BRAND?
Something of that ilk, albeit in extremely early developments, is definitely in motion.
Additionally we’re in talks with a number of new potential footwear and accessory designers, as well as growing our product range of those we currently work with, alongside expansion of our vintage edits.
We’re also working on a re-design and development of the site, but these things always take longer than we’d like.
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Well folks, I hope your appreciation of “vintage hunters” has increased following our little chat with Cotton Love, I for one have a new found respect for the business of vintage and can’t wait to see the dynamic duo develop!
With talk of hiring new team members, i’d sign up to their newsletter, or better still like their Facebook or Twitter to keep in the loop.
Jealous doesn’t even begin to cover how I feel about the shoes that Mr Gower is sporting on day 3 of his shoe diary…I’m tempted to get all twin thing and go and purchase a pair myself!
Day 3 / Opening Ceremony Desert Boot in Leopard Print
Q: If you could own any pair of shoes or trainers this season, what would they be?
A: It would have to be the camouflage trainers from Valentino’s Spring Summer 13 collection, they’re a combination of two of my favourite things!
Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?
A: I currently own 30 pairs, most of which are trainers. I try to make a point of wearing a different pair each day, although, there are always favourites that tend to get worn more than others.
Enjoy the journey of stepping in another mans shoes…
YSC - Your Samples Collective
