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Category Archives: CoolBrands
Sophisticated fashion with an African Soul
We are meeting Nigerian fashion designer Deola Sagoe in her atelier-store on Victoria Island in Lagos. Fauzi, who is in charge of communication, leads us into the airy open-plan atelier where mannequins are dotted through the space to display the brand’s latest designs.
“I’m not looking for easy,” Deola replies. “Easy won’t change the world. Already becoming an haute couture fashion designer in Africa wasn’t the easiest career choice… but I want to raise the bar a little bit higher still, to add purpose to my design work and to my life. Women who buy my designs can be proud of the clothes they are wearing, but also of their role as ambassadors of the African Soul.”
Posted in CoolBrands, CoolTravel, Storytelling, Sustainability, Travel, Uncategorized
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Meeting Deola Sagoe, the princess of African fashion
Our chauffeur-driven car heads towards the city and we soon hit dense traffic. As we inch forward in the Lagos rush hour, Fauzi briefs us in preparation of our meeting with Nigerian fashion designer Deola Sagoe. “Deola started working in fashion over 20 years ago when she joined her mother’s label as a junior designer,” he says. “Her style really comes from her culturally diverse education. She picked up different ideas and cultural trends from around the world, but Nigeria remains her greatest inspiration – different textures, colours, culture, people, the whole vibe!”
“She has given 21st-century African fashion design a tremendous boost – her work is the clearest expression of the complexities of the African identity imaginable. Through her designs, Deola is spreading African culture, even influencing the image of Nigeria.”
Posted in CoolBrands, CoolTravel, Storytelling, Sustainability, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged African culture, African identity, African identity imaginable, Anouk Pappers, Cool, CoolBrands, CoolBrands Global, CoolBrands Meeting Deola Sagoe, CoolSustainability, Deloa Sagoe the brand, DEO label, Deola African culture, DeolaSagoe, DS brand, Fashion designer, Fauzi Fahm, Global Storytelling Campaign, Influencing image of Nigeria, Meeting, Meeting Deola Sagoe, people planet profit, Storytelling, Sustainability, The haute-couture label, the prêt-à-porter line, the princess of African fashion, Transmedia Storytelling, Travel
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The fight against hidden hunger
Sunrise at Angkor, in the middle of the Cambodian jungle. There would have been total silence, were it not for a group of kids who offered to be our guides for the day. “We can take you to Ta Prohm. It’s a hidden temple… very beautiful… for only five dollars!” says the leader of the gang, an 11-year-old girl named Chenda. “Most tourists never get there. It’s a long walk.”
“DSM gave me the opportunity to be actively involved with the WFP. This means I can contribute to solving a global issue and make a difference in people’s lives. I’ve been on assignment to Bangladesh and Nepal, but here in Cambodia I’m just a tourist admiring the temples of Angkor.” Continue reading
Posted in CoolBrands, CoolTravel, Storytelling, Sustainability, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged Angkor, blind girl, cambodian jungle, chill in the air, CoolBrands Global Storytelling Campaign, CoolBrands in Cambodia, CoolBrands Meeting DSM, CoolSustainability, DSM, DSM fight hunger., DSM food supplements, DSM solving global issues, DSM Sustainability, DSM WFP, Fight agains hunger, fight hidden hunger, first aid kit, Global Storytelling Campaign, hidden temple, Lara Croft movie, Meeting DSM, temple of Angkor, WFP, world food programme
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The road to Brighter Living
We’re crossing the Thames in a black cab, speeding over Waterloo Bridge. We take a right on Victoria Embankment and follow the river eastward. We turn left, then right and then left again and stop in front of the St. Paul’s Cathedral. We get out and look up at the 111-metre-high dome that has dominated the London skyline for 300 years.
Jos pauses for a few seconds and answers. “In fact, yes, I think that’s correct,” he says. “We create innovative solutions that address the key challenges facing society today. And we are constantly seeking to make a positive contribution to the lives of people, today and for the future generations. It’s the road to Brighter Living.” Continue reading
Posted in CoolBrands, CoolTravel, Storytelling, Sustainability, Travel
Tagged Brighter Living, conference on strategic rebranding cases., CoolBrands Global Storytelling Campaign, CoolBrands Meeting DSM, CoolBrands Meeting Jos van Haastrecht, CoolSustainability, DSM, DSM Bright Science, DSM case presentation, DSM create brighter lives for people, DSM create innovative solutions, DSM more sustainable world, DSM Sustainability, DSM Transform conference, Global Storytelling Campaign, It is the road to Brighter Living, Meeting DSM, Meeting DSM Director of company branding, Meeting DSM in London
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Marrying static art and fluid art
Roberto is unstoppable, here is the next example: “Another collaboration was back in 1998 with Grupo Corpo, a flamboyant modern Brazilian dance troup. Journeying into the universe of modern dance, our jewellery design team studied all aspects of their renowned productions, from the conceptualization of each ballet’s theme and its choreography to costume and set design. This was something entirely new to our team, a very exciting process.”
Roberto continues to innovate. With his collections, his target groups and his technology. He is constantly on the look out for ways to change the industry, including new gemstone cutting and polishing techniques. Time and time again, you’ll find his rethinking established processes and relearning centuries-old techniques from different points of view. With his courage, innovative strength and creativity, Roberto Stern has turned the world of jewellery upside down. We can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. Continue reading
Posted in CoolBrands, CoolTravel, Storytelling, Sustainability, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged Brazilian coloured stones H.Stern, Catherine Deneuve Collection, Cool Sustainability, CoolBrands Global, CoolBrands meeting H.Stern, CoolBrands meeting H.Stern in Rio, CoolBrnds meeting Roberto Stern, DNA of the brand, first jeweler in Brazil, first jeweller in Brazil, gemstones, girl power, Global Storytelling Campaign, H. Stern, H. Stern Athena necklace, H. Stern sustainability, H.Stern Angelina Jolie necklace, H.Stern House of design, H.Stern in Rio, H.Stern innovation, H.Stern innovator, H.Stern jeweler, H.Stern jewellery in Brazil, H.Stern jewelry in Brazil, high-quality jewelry design, innovative jewelers, jewellery craftsmanship, jewelry craftsmanship, Meeting, Meeting H.Stern, Meeting Oscar Niemeyer, Meeting Roberto Stern, Muse of Bunuel’s ‘Belle du Jour’, people planet profit, purchase jewelry in Rio, Roberto Stern, Roberto Stern innovative jewelers, Storytelling, Sustainability
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Wonderfully audacious
Living flowers, coloured mushrooms, a bird from the topiary garden, the Cheshire cat and the jabberwocky dragon. Sound familiar? Probably not if you’re a jewellery expert, as one of Stern’s most flamboyant collections was inspired by Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and made in collaboration with Disney.
The latter really are remarkable – enormous sculptures that go beyond anything known in terms of jewellery, measuring 10 cm in height. Yet, in our humble opinion, no more extraordinary than merely having the idea in the first place. How many times have you said to yourself “I could have invented that?” Fact is, it never was you. It’s the pioneers out there that shape our worlds. Continue reading
Posted in CoolBrands, CoolTravel, Storytelling, Sustainability, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged Brazilian coloured stones H.Stern, Catherine Deneuve Collection, Cool Sustainability, CoolBrands Global, CoolBrands meeting H.Stern, CoolBrands meeting H.Stern in Rio, CoolBrnds meeting Roberto Stern, DNA of the brand, first jeweler in Brazil, first jeweller in Brazil, gemstones, girl power, Global Storytelling Campaign, H. Stern, H. Stern Athena necklace, H. Stern sustainability, H.Stern Angelina Jolie necklace, H.Stern House of design, H.Stern in Rio, H.Stern innovator, H.Stern jeweler, H.Stern jewellery in Brazil, H.Stern jewelry in Brazil, high-quality jewelry design, innovative jewelers, jewellery craftsmanship, jewelry craftsmanship, Meeting, Meeting H.Stern, Meeting Oscar Niemeyer, Meeting Roberto Stern, Muse of Bunuel’s ‘Belle du Jour’, people planet profit, purchase jewelry in Rio, Roberto Stern, Roberto Stern innovative jewelers, Storytelling, Sustainability
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Masterful collaboration
Anouk: “We understood you work together with artists from all disciplines, what’s the story behind that?” Roberto smiles secretly before he answers: “That’s a good question. Our greatest change lies in our special collections and the people who inspired them. The principle behind this shift in direction was my desire to move from being ‘just’ jewellers into being a fully-fledged house of design. I got into design originally, because I was curious and wanted to do things people thought were impossible. When we came up with the idea to work with others, it was not for marketing purposes, but rather to create new, fresh ideas. I wanted to work with people who had no background in jewellery, but were masters in their own fields so we could create a crossover between the two professions. We try to create one new collection each year, and every two years we collaborate with a third party. I am intrigued though, because nowadays everyone seems to have jumped on the bandwagon with collaborations, although for them it’s still generally about marketing.”
It was the first time Niemeyer approved a collection of jewellery created in his honour, and based on his own sketches and curved lines. The pieces in the H.Stern Collection by Oscar Niemeyer are named after some of his works and famous projects. Find them on the net. They’re stunning down. We can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. Continue reading
Posted in CoolBrands, CoolTravel, Storytelling, Sustainability, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged Brazilian coloured stones H.Stern, Catherine Deneuve Collection, Cool Sustainability, CoolBrands Global, CoolBrands meeting H.Stern, CoolBrands meeting H.Stern in Rio, CoolBrnds meeting Roberto Stern, DNA of the brand, first jeweler in Brazil, first jeweller in Brazil, gemstones, girl power, Global Storytelling Campaign, H. Stern, H. Stern Athena necklace, H. Stern sustainability, H.Stern Angelina Jolie necklace, H.Stern House of design, H.Stern in Rio, H.Stern innovator, H.Stern jeweler, H.Stern jewellery in Brazil, H.Stern jewelry in Brazil, high-quality jewelry design, innovative jewelers, jewellery craftsmanship, jewelry craftsmanship, Meeting, Meeting H.Stern, Meeting Oscar Niemeyer, Meeting Roberto Stern, Muse of Bunuel’s ‘Belle du Jour’, people planet profit, purchase jewelry in Rio, Roberto Stern, Roberto Stern innovative jewelers, Storytelling, Sustainability
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