The ANNOTICO Report
Replay's founder Claudio Buziol was a pioneer in the washed
jeans look. In
the 70s, he would go down to a river near his Veneto
region home in Italy
and use rocks to distress denim, giving it an artistic
worn look.
Replay had sales of $300 million last year in 150 stores in 50 countries.
"Brandon" Edition jeans will retail at $300 to $500 a
pair.
Young art dealer named as U.S. promotional spokesman for
Italian fashion
jeans maker; "Brandon" jeans to debut.
24-7PressRelease
New York, NY
June 03, 2005 -
Art dealer Brandon Davis will serve as the U.S. promotional
spokesman for
Italian fashion jeans maker, Replay, Thierry Andretta,
U.S. president of
the company, announced today.
As part of their agreement, Replay will manufacture a
special edition of
"Brandon" jeans with a retail price tag of $300 to $500
a pair.
The 24-year old Davis, well known among the 20-something
trend makers,
frequents high profile celebrity events and arts circles.
He is the
grandson of the late Marvin Davis, the Colorado oil tycoon
and Hollywood
movie mogul.
"I am real happy to represent Replay before the American
public," said
Davis. "In Europe, Replay has long been a coveted fashion
brand, and I know
it will become a favorite in America, as well."
Brandon will be formally introduced as the American face
of Replay June 6
at a star-studded "Spaghetti at Midnight" event at Cipriani
Downtown
(UPSTAIRS) , 376 West Broadway at Broome Street in Manhattan.
The
invitation-only event will start at 10 p.m.
In addition to fashion jeans, Replay offers a wide variety
of casual
clothing, including shirts, jackets and other accessories.
Davis is an ardent admirer of the works of the late Andy
Warhol, and has
studied and dealt in the pop artist's creations extensively
over the last
few years.
"I have a great appreciation of art, and Replay has interpreted
art into
the design of their clothes" said Davis. "Replay's founder
Claudio Buziol
was a creative genius, and he was fond of saying each
pair of his jeans and
shirts had an expression of their own. I know where he
was coming from."
(Mr. Buziol was a pioneer in the washed jeans look. In
the 70s, he would go
down to a river near his Veneto region home in Italy
and use rocks to
distress denim, giving it an artistic worn look.)
Brandon added: "It is very important to me that I am able
to provide a
portion of the funds generated by the Replay "Brandon"
Jean to the Race to
Erase MS. I am able to spread the word about some great
clothes, and also
provide support to a good cause."
Mr. Andretta said: "Replay is thrilled and excited to
have Brandon in our
American spotlight. He has a great eye for artistic excellence,
and makes a
perfect partner to project Replay to the U.S. market.
Brandon personifies
everything that is fun and creative about young Americans,
and Replay
exemplifies everything that is unique about fashionable
jeans and other
casual wear."
Venanzio Ciampa, a New York-based marketing specialist
who used to run
Swatch and Omega marketing has mapped an extensive Replay
promotional
campaign revolving around Brandon.
"Brandon is an exceptionally gifted young man," said Ciampa.
"I was
thoroughly impressed with his entrepreneurial acumen,
his self-confidence
and his free-spirited appreciation of the finer things
in life. He connects
with the targeted Replay market in the United States,
and will be a great
asset for us."
In recent weeks, Brandon and the design staff of Replay
have been
collaborating on the design and manufacture of the "Brandon"
jeans.
The Davis announcement coincides with Replay's coast-to-coast
U.S.
expansion that will see 30 to 50 Replay stores sprouting
across the
country. The company's U.S. headquarters at 109 Prince
Street in the SoHo
section of New York City, also is the location of its
only current U.S.
store.
Mr. Andretta has spent a quarter century in the branded
luxury goods sector
serving in top posts with Gucci, LVHM, Ferragamo and
Belfe. Last year, he
was tapped by Buziol as the leader of Replay's U.S. expansion.
Replay had sales of $300 million last year in 150 stores in 50 countries.
In mid-February, Andretta and the Fashion Box Group, Replay's
parent
company, finalized the purchase of the landmark, 49-room
Franklin Hotel, in
South Beach, with its Mediterranean facade, fully restored
natural wood
lobby and glazed tile floors, and will convert it into
a Replay store. It
is scheduled to open next year.
"Historic buildings are what we like best" said Andretta,
noting that
Replay stores in such places as Paris and Venice are
housed in historic
structures.
Andretta recently signed a contract to open a Replay store
in the
fashionable South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA. The
store is scheduled to
open in September. He also has looked at potential store
locations in San
Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
In coming months, he will focus also on Chicago, Boston,
Honolulu and the
Short Hills, NJ, shopping mall.
"In Europe today, we are the trendiest brand, and our
collection is
definitely fashion forward - elegant and sophisticated,
but also young and
provocative," said Andretta. "We think Replay will play
well in the U.S.
market; we are the new, new thing. Americans will appreciate
our search for
denim Nirvana."
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