Memo Pad: Pringle Taps Swinton... Kate Moss, Media Mogul?...

PRINGLE’S HIGHLAND FLING: Pringle of Scotland is going back to its roots. The label has tapped actress Tilda Swinton – who resides in Scotland — to be the face of both its men’s and women’s collections for the label’s spring 2010 campaign, which will be shot against the country’s landscape by photographer Ryan McGinley.

The company describes the campaign, slated to be shot in August, as a “collaboration” among Pringle, McGinley and Swinton. Alongside the print images, McGinley will shoot a short film of Swinton to be shown on various arts Web sites, while stills from the shoot will be exhibited in London during the city’s fashion week, where Pringle will show in September. “We want to show people that Pringle is a Scottish brand, but go a little bit deeper,” said Benoit Duverger, director of global communications at Pringle, who added the shoot’s locations would take in both the Scottish highlands and the country’s Modernist architecture. “We don’t want to go away from [our traditional customers] — we believe Tilda is more inclusive, as both young and more mature people identify with her acting.” Mary-Adair Macaire, chief executive officer of Pringle, and Clare Waight Keller, Pringle’s creative director, both oversaw the campaign. To preview the campaign and mark Pringle’s 195th anniversary, Swinton and McGinley will host a cocktail and private dinner during London Fashion Week. The event will also celebrate McGinley’s first solo show in the U.K, which opens at London’s Alison Jacques Gallery in September.

And the label has more artistic collaborations afoot — the company has asked the Scottish artist David Shrigley to produce a tongue-in-cheek billboard inspired by its signature twin set, which will be displayed in London Underground stations during September’s London Fashion Week. A line of products for Pringle bearing Shrigley’s designs will also launch in September. — Nina Jones

KATE MOSS, MEDIA MOGUL? Is Kate Moss ready to leap from billboard to boardroom? Not quite, apparently, though London’s Daily Mail seems to think so. On Monday, the British tabloid ran a story quoting unnamed sources saying Moss is set to partner with Topshop tycoon Sir Philip Green and TV producer Simon Cowell in their soon-to-be-unveiled global entertainment company. As reported in WWD, Green and Cowell are teaming to form a multichannel brand — inspired in part by The Walt Disney Company — that would own and create content for Europe and the U.S., and market products linked to the TV shows.

The Mail story said Moss would be in charge of “directing the style and image” of the new one billion pound, or $1.62 billion, brand as well as “giving fashion advice.” The piece went as far to say Moss would be “finding and signing new bands and promoting them,” and that she may even have the chance to develop “her own singing career” and start a music label. The paper quoted sources saying Moss’ fortune could double to 100 million pounds, or $162 million, if the deal with Green and Cowell were based on a profit-share arrangement.

Although Moss’ clothing collection for Topshop has been a runaway success — and she and Green are close pals — industry sources in London say they are not holding their collective breath for any of the story’s claims. Storm, Moss’ modeling agency, declined to comment on the story, but a source close to Moss said it’s just not true. A spokeswoman for Green also declined to comment. An industry source close to both Green and Cowell also denied the claims, however, and dismissed them as tabloids “making mischief.” — Samantha Conti