The runway proof was in the refreshing anti-poof/polyester. Fact: Coppens’ looks will keep you really warm, (hello there Austrian Loden Wool – you sound quite fancy!) and you’ll look hot too. Especially if you pair the Coppens x Linda Farrow wildly large goggle sunnies with one of his beanies or super-flowing scarves. Rocking the aforementioned with one of those blue/green plaid numbers will take things to another wintry, fashion-forward dimension. We chatted with the mountaineer master, post show.
Let’s talk about the inspiration. Are you a big mountain hiker?
For me it’s always very open. I’m not like, “Oh, let’s look at mountaineering.” It’s not like that. I was in Japan and there was a book of a guy’s photography. You usually go to the Himalayas and take pictures from Mount Everest, but he went the other way around where he took photos of Mount Everest. And I really liked the pictures because they had a sort of a dark gloomy thing, even though the guys were wearing electric yellow outerwear stuff. It looked very, not traditional, but it had something vintage about it. But it was modern, you know what I mean? And had something moody about it.
Tell us about those killer Linda Farrow glasses…
We started from a mountain goggle. It’s just our reinterpretation of that – big, huge sunglasses. You see them on the runway with a cashmere beanie, and it adds that sharp edge to the collection.
Do you have a pre-show ritual?
Before the show, I have to get my blood flowing. So I do really intense running or cycling over the George Washington Bridge into the palisades and all of that.
Your collection looks amazing but is also super functional…
That’s the thing, it’s the balance. I don’t want to make things that are like, “Oh, that’s a great sweater.” It needs to be something more. I want to think about how you make it live on the street.
Are you happy with the line’s growing success?
It’s our sixth collection – I started the brand two and a half years ago. To be honest, a year ago nobody knew what the brand was and now it’s picking up. We start to get requests and we start to see people wearing it, so it’s fun.
Credits
Text Alex Catarinella