Wholesaler adopts rich aesthetic
A chance meeting between IFG owner David Mendels and the wife of one of the two designers behind new women's denim label Rich & Skinny has led to IFG securing the contract to distribute the label across the Australian and New Zealand markets.
The new acquisition comes at a busy time for IFG, which is midway through expanding its showroom and - when not attending international trade shows - is currently developing its own shirt label.
For his part, however, Mendels is confident the group's new addition is capable of creating great cut-through in the already congested denim category.
"We were actually at [trade fair] Coterie in New York when I saw a woman wearing Rich & Skinny and asked her where she got them from. Ironically she turned out to be the wife of one of the designers and was able to set us up with a meeting from there.
"We didn't pay for the rights - which offered a three-year term with an option to extend - although the brand mentioned they had interest from four other distributors in Australia," Mendels said.
The collection, whose name came about owing to its 'rich' aesthetic and 'skinny' silhouette, is the result of a timely collaboration between the founder of popular denim line Citizens of Humanity, Michael Glasser, and former Guess and Levi's designer Joie Rucker.
Launched in the US last November, Mendels said its early success has been driven by the brand's use of tencel, cotton and lycra which allows the denim to flatter the human form.
Key features of the 11 piece range include its rose gold-hued buttons inspired by vintage Cartier cufflinks, its Riri zippers and the fact all pockets in the collection are lined in silk, he said.
The brand, which has already been Featuring a rich colour palette including Ramone Red, Gucci Green, and Pucci Purple, the Rich & Skinny collection will be available in sizes 24 to 32 (six to 12 Australian).
Retail price points range from $240 for a denim skirt through to $330 for jeans.