COLLABORATION
CHRISTIAN COWAN GETS BEJEWELED AND PERFUMED
SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
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WORDS
by KRISTOPHER FRASER
PHOTOS
COURTESY of
ZACH HILTY/BFA.COM
The glitz, glamour, and camp have always been elements of designer Christian Cowan’s collections, but for spring/summer 2020 he decided to get sentimental. Cowan wanted to take a much more personal expression approach drawing inspiration from where he grew up, Moaña, a seaside village in Spain. He focused primarily on his female family members, who he sees as strong fierce leaders that inspire him daily to lead with confidence.
During his design process for this collection, he began working with House of Sillage on a new fragrance. “Making a fragrance is something I had no knowledge of, and Nicole Mather, the CEO, she was so amazing and walked me through the whole process,” Cowan said. “With the collection being about my family in Spain, fragrance is the biggest trigger of memory, so it was the perfect fusion. Nicole just allowed me to do my creative thing and brought it to life in every way.”
House of Sillage’s collaboration with the brand features Cowan’s signature black and white checkerboard for the packaging. “Both of us are really similar in our youthful and modern look, and we both love sparkles,” Mather said. “So, we created a lipstick case with Swarovski crystals, our fragrance coming out in a month, and the travel spray. The girl who is going to go for this loves something that is innovative, fun, and beautiful. She’s that lady who wants something that is unlike anything else out there. That’s what we wanted to create, something unique and different that not only makes someone feel gorgeous, but show off what they have.”
This collaboration is also of top quality, with the fragrance being produced in Paris, as House of Sillage continues their commitment to working with the best in the industry. Although working with a ready-to-wear designer is a new venture for the brand, Mather approached the collaboration with so much joy. “We love to have that youthful appeal, and this checkered black and white print is such a classic,” Mather said. “At the same it, it was so fun and innovative, and the fact we got to bring Christian’s take to cosmetics was so fabulous!”
Christian Cowan spring/summer 2020
Cowan is predominantly a womenswear designer, but he’s been finding his footing with male clientele. Musician Lil Nas X recently wore a custom look by Christian Cowan to the MTV VMA’s, and influencer Cameron Dallas also walked his show in Eli Halili jewelry, another collaboration that the designer was debuting this season. The collection includes a bracelet, hoop earrings, and a necklace all in 22 karat gold and worn by Dallas during the runway show.
“Eli Halili is a close friend of mine whom I adore, so we decided to come together and make magic,” Cowan said. “He totally understood the Spanish vibe of my collection, and he used his genius to create these beautiful gold pieces, and I’m so delighted with everything he has done.”
Cowan added that, “Collaborations continue to transform my business because I’m allowed to use someone else’s resources, and as a young designer you don’t have that many resources or the budget. Working with Nicole Mather and Eli Halili has taught me so much about business, and it was the same thing when I worked with Giuseppe Zanotti in the past as well. They are all great teachers as well as collaborators.”
For spring/summer 2020 you can be dripping in gold or in your House of Sillage fragrance. Cowan’s got your evening perfume and jewelry needs covered thanks to Eli Halili and Nicole Mather.
Christian Cowan spring/summer 2020