Why It's Called "The Kooples," and 8 Other Things to Know About Fashion's New It Brand
The designer trio (they're brothers!) give Nina Garcia the inside scoop.
![Hat, Coat, Facial hair, Sleeve, Trousers, Suit trousers, Standing, Shirt, Outerwear, Suit,](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YieMQ6yTMUpqpaWXzUhy6D-415-80.jpg)
Nina Garcia: What's the meaning behind the name?
Alexandre Elicha: In French, couples sounds like "kooples." We wanted a place you could shop with your boyfriend.
Raphaël Elicha: We really believe that somebody wearing The Kooples will not stay single for long. We dress them to help them find the one who is going to undress them.
"We used to host [the Jackson family] for dinner and sit around and play guitar with all of the siblings."
NG: Does fashion run in your family?
AE: Our parents founded Comptoir des Cotonniers in 1995 and worked with Jean Paul Gaultier, which had a licensing partnership with the Jackson family. We used to host them for dinner and sit around and play guitar with all of the siblings.
Laurent Elicha: We launched The Kooples in 2008 because the three of us wanted to create something together.
AE: I work on menswear, Laurent does womenswear, and Raphaël handles the brand image.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
NG: How do you find the couples featured in your ad campaigns?
AE: At first, it was scouting on the street, but now we also get submissions and look on Instagram.
RE: Maybe they've been together 20 years, maybe just two hours. They are so cool and have such crazy stories that we do videos as well.
NG: Are you big movie fans?
AE: We love cinema and telling stories, so we approach The Kooples in the same way.
RE: We did shoot a one-minute movie a year ago and developed a Kooples app—a social network where you can add only one person: the one you love.
NG: What inspires you?
AE: Travel. For spring, we were inspired by Asia, from India to Japan.
LE: When you start a collection, it's better to take a plane.
RE: Because style doesn't come from a catwalk, brand, or magazine; it comes from culture. And culture is in the street.
NG: Is there a recurring theme in your designs?
AE: Skulls are special for us. When we were younger, we were punk skateboarders and the skull signified this notion of "too fast to live, too young to die." With age we became more spiritual, so today it represents to us the idea of filling your life with love and goodness.
NG: What's it like working with family every day?
AE: We always have, so we don't know what it's like to work with strangers. We even live in the same building! Last summer, we rented a house in St.-Tropez with our wives and children. Maybe it's something we connected to as kids, seeing our parents share business ideas.
LE: You can say anything at any moment.
RE: It can be hard, because we laugh too much!
NG: What are your passions outside of work?
LE: I draw a lot.
AE: Muay Thai boxing. I train in Thailand. Work is stressful, and it allows you to leave everything behind.
RE: Portrait photography—my favorite I've ever taken is of my daughter.
NG: Any plans for Valentine's Day?
AE: That's every day for us. We are French!
LE: Actually, we're working on a Kooples Kama Sutra project.
RE: After all, Paris is the city of love.
This article appears in the February issue of Marie Claire, on newsstands now.
-
Queen Mary of Denmark Was Hit By a Scooter While Visiting Greenland
Video of the accident was shared on TikTok.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Every Pet Owner Needs This Holy-Grail Service
Sponsor Content Created With Dutch
By Emma Walsh Published
-
17 Chic Pieces for Transitional Dressing Made Easy
Including a Katie Holmes-approved jacket for $400 off.
By Brooke Knappenberger Published
-
30 Linen Pieces From Nordstrom’s Sale for a Seamless Summer to Fall Transition
Shop breezy dresses and airy pants for versatile summer and autumn outfits.
By Lauren Tappan Published
-
7 Make-My-Life-Easier Items I'm Buying From the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
Grab these must-haves before it's too late.
By Nikki Ogunnaike Published
-
The Best Summer Work Shoes Don’t Have To Scream ‘Corporate'
Footwear that means business in the best way possible.
By Lauren Tappan Published
-
34 Chic Vacation Essentials Hiding in Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale
Don't board the plane without packing these items first.
By Lauren Tappan Last updated
-
The Boxer Shorts Trend Offers a Realistic Take on Lingerie Dressing
How the borrowed-from-the-boys bottom became a hero summer piece with endless style potential.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Fashion Girls Are Destined to Wear the J.Crew x Maryam Nassir Zadeh Collaboration on Vacation
Beloved indie designer Maryam Nassir Zadeh translated her essentials into the ultimate packing list.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
I'm a Style Editor—50 Last-Minute Prime Day Fashion Deals to Grab Before Tomorrow
Grab these on-sale items before it’s too late.
By Lauren Tappan Last updated
-
Fashion Editors Share the Best Work Dresses From Their Summer Uniform
From classic wrap silhouettes to breezy linens, these are the expert-approved styles we're wearing on repeat.
By Lauren Tappan Published