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COACH POACH: Marc by Marc Jacobs design director Fred Tremblay is expected to be the next significant hire by Coach. Word is that Tremblay may be signing up just in time for a major push by Coach into women's ready-to-wear. While details couldn't be confirmed, WWD learned that Jacobs' firm planned to throw Tremblay a farewell party Wednesday night.
Tremblay wouldn't be the first high-profile hire for the New York accessories firm. In December, Coach tapped Pina Ferlisi, another Jacobs alum, who had most recently been Generra's creative director. The $2.9 billion accessories brand also recently hired Christian Dior's former U.S. president, Patricia Malone, to be its senior vice president of merchandising.
Over the past few years, Coach's president and executive creative director, Reed Krakoff, has tapped rtw designers to collaborate on items. Lutz & Patmos' Tina Lutz and Marcia Patmos worked with Coach on a line of knits, and Phillip Lim recently collaborated with Krakoff on two trenchcoats for fall.
But the latest buildup of full-time talent suggests Coach is gearing up for a significant women's business.
ARMANI ON THE FUTURE: Giorgio Armani plans to continue going solo for at least another 15 years. "I am fine alone now, but not when I'll be 90," the designer, who is 73, said during the presentation of his new home collection in Milan. Armani reiterated that he is neither interested in a stock market listing nor in a private equity fund offer. "[Funds] just want to make money and then leave," he said. "How could I talk to someone who only cares about the figures? I would rather consider a real partner, perhaps a group that already has a connection with us, that we know and that could complete the relationship with us." When asked about beauty partner L'Oréal, which fits that description and has been long rumored to have an interest in courting the company, Armani said: "I did not say it and you will not make me say it."
Inevitably, politics was also a topic on the agenda after the elections that returned Silvio Berlusconi to the prime minister's office. Armani said he hopes Italian politicians — whatever their parties — will work together. "Recession or no recession, I keep busy and work hard," he said. "Let's hope they will do the same."
Tremblay wouldn't be the first high-profile hire for the New York accessories firm. In December, Coach tapped Pina Ferlisi, another Jacobs alum, who had most recently been Generra's creative director. The $2.9 billion accessories brand also recently hired Christian Dior's former U.S. president, Patricia Malone, to be its senior vice president of merchandising.
Over the past few years, Coach's president and executive creative director, Reed Krakoff, has tapped rtw designers to collaborate on items. Lutz & Patmos' Tina Lutz and Marcia Patmos worked with Coach on a line of knits, and Phillip Lim recently collaborated with Krakoff on two trenchcoats for fall.
But the latest buildup of full-time talent suggests Coach is gearing up for a significant women's business.
ARMANI ON THE FUTURE: Giorgio Armani plans to continue going solo for at least another 15 years. "I am fine alone now, but not when I'll be 90," the designer, who is 73, said during the presentation of his new home collection in Milan. Armani reiterated that he is neither interested in a stock market listing nor in a private equity fund offer. "[Funds] just want to make money and then leave," he said. "How could I talk to someone who only cares about the figures? I would rather consider a real partner, perhaps a group that already has a connection with us, that we know and that could complete the relationship with us." When asked about beauty partner L'Oréal, which fits that description and has been long rumored to have an interest in courting the company, Armani said: "I did not say it and you will not make me say it."
Inevitably, politics was also a topic on the agenda after the elections that returned Silvio Berlusconi to the prime minister's office. Armani said he hopes Italian politicians — whatever their parties — will work together. "Recession or no recession, I keep busy and work hard," he said. "Let's hope they will do the same."
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