Given that the debut collection of Reed Krakoff’s eponymous label is only just hitting stores, you could be forgiven for wondering how it’s managed to generate so much attention.
Fashion editors are obsessed, Julianne Moore sat front row at his Spring 2011 show , and he’s just opened a store on New York’s ultra luxe Madison Avenue – not bad for such a young label. But then Krakoff is no fledgling designer.
In fact heading up his label is just one of his jobs. The others? President and Creative Director of US accessories label Coach, where he has worked since 1996. Oh, and he’s also the Vice President of the CFDA . So, a force to be reckoned with in the fashion world then. Suddenly his success doesn’t seem so surprising after all.
Krakoff is a graduate of Parsons School of Design, and he cut his teeth within the industry working for the likes of Anne Klein and Ralph Lauren . But most fashion insiders are familiar with his name thanks to his long stretch at Coach. He’s credited with transforming the business into a massive global success, and he bagged himself two Accessories Designer of the Year awards courtesy of the CFDA along the way.
Now he’s branched out on his own – backed by Coach, which is how he’s managed to bag the Madison Avenue store – and his new label is fast becoming the fashion crowd’s go-to. He’s nailed the easy luxe style that has caught the imagination of the best dressed this season and his simple, tailored pieces, classic knitwear and much coveted accessories are the hit of the season.
If you thought all that would be enough to keep Krakoff busy then brace yourself – there’s more. He is also, it turns out, a keen photographer. Not only has he been responsible for shooting the Coach campaigns for the past few years, he’s also released a decidedly un-fashiony book called ‘Fighters: The Fighters of the UFC’. (That’s Ultimate Fighting Championship for those of you unfamiliar with the sport.)
Reed Krakoff is available from www.net-a-porter.com .
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