Kipling Brand
Encyclopedia
Kipling is a bag brand founded in 1987 in Antwerp, Belgium
. Kipling brand is part of VF Corporation since 2004. Their most famous collection is Basic, recognizable from its crinkled nylon
fabric and its monkey zipper.
is related to a change in the design
of the bags, which have evolved to become more fashionable, as well as a rapid geographical expansion. Such evolution also appears through an increase of collaborations with emerging designers from several countries across the world.
in different languages. They aimed at finding a name that wouldn’t have any strange or unexpected meanings abroad.
, which could be easily recognized by its shape and characteristic coloured fur. Since Kipling has developed several collections representing several styles, the monkey evolved as well. Now each collection corresponds to a type of monkeys.
with a name on it. The different names come from Kipling employees all over the world. Each name corresponds to a colour.
, The North Face
, Vans
, Reef
, Eastpak
, Napapijri, Nautica
, John Varvatos
and 7 for all Mankind. In 2009 the total revenues of VF Corporation were $7,220 million.
Kipling brand employs around 220 people in sales and marketing worldwide plus several hundred more people in VF support organizations and factories. Retail sales in 2009 were approximately €350.000.000, which means approximately 6 million Kipling bags were sold that year around the world - which equates to 23 bags a minute! Kipling brand directly employs in sales, marketing and design plus many more people in VF organizations and factories.
Kipling bags can be bought from Kipling’s 215 stores and 450 corners and shop-in-shops, or from 4,000 multi-brand stores and websites.
locations. Presently, there are over 200 Kipling stores worldwide, which are to be found in cities like Paris
, London
, Tokyo
, Hong Kong
and Sao Paulo
.
Kipling bags are also sold in over 500 corners and shop-in-shop inside department stores plus distribution in 4.200 multi-brand stores.
, Belgium
.
Fashion Week
. 4 bags were created out of this association, representing both Kipling and Brazilian Gloria Coelho’s styles.
, paraded during the Haute Couture week in Paris and sells her creations over the world. Kipling and Cathy Pill have worked together to create 9 lamb leather handbags for the Cathy Pill Haute Couture collection.
2009 collaborated to create two different bag collections, with two types of prints. One features space and the other mechanics. The result of this collaboration is 11 bags and 5 accessories, among which backpacks, bum bags
and shopping bags. The collaboration between Peter Pilotto and Kipling should go on for another collection due Spring 2011. According to Pilotto, “When we started thinking about designing the print for this collection, we thought of an intergalactic traveller, a sort of otherworldly nomad who is exploring and discovering”.
was chosen as model for the autumn winter 2009, as well as for spring summer 2010 Kipling collection.
was chosen as model for the autumn winter 2010 Kipling collection. She is also posing for Peter Pilotto’s collaboration
with Kipling.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Kipling brand is part of VF Corporation since 2004. Their most famous collection is Basic, recognizable from its crinkled nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
fabric and its monkey zipper.
Current Status
Kipling sales have doubled in the last five years. This phenomenonPhenomenon
A phenomenon , plural phenomena, is any observable occurrence. Phenomena are often, but not always, understood as 'appearances' or 'experiences'...
is related to a change in the design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
of the bags, which have evolved to become more fashionable, as well as a rapid geographical expansion. Such evolution also appears through an increase of collaborations with emerging designers from several countries across the world.
Simplistic Timeline
- 1986 March 15 : The original founders of Kipling decided to create a new bags company.
- 1987 January : Kipling company was founded in Antwerp, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. - 1987 May : The first Kipling bags were delivered in BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. - 1989 : Kipling Netherlands founded.
- 1992 : Kipling basic was created.
- 1993 : Kipling first sold in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, USA and begins an international expansion. - 1993-1999 : Expansion of Kipling retail stores in BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and internationally. - 2005 : Acceleration of international expansion.
- 2005 : Reinforcing a new position regarding the styles of the bags.
- 2006 : New brand positioning and new art direction.
- 2006 : New campaign by photographer Serge Leblon.
- 2006 : Kipling starts advertising in fashion magazines in EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. - 2007 : Multiple innovations for the brand, such as using new material (leather, new fabric) and Iconic bag Katie
- Autumn / Winter 2008 : Collaboration with Brazilian designer Gloria Coelho.
- 2009 : More than 215 Kipling stores operate worldwide in capitals like ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
... - Spring / Summer 2009 : Collaboration with Belgian designer Cathy Pill.
- 2009 : First new concept store opens in Antwerp, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. - Autumn / Winter 2009 : Collaboration with Belgian-Russian designer from “Girls From Omsk”.
- Spring / Summer 2010 : Collaboration with Spanish designer from El Delgado Buil.
- Autumn / Winter 2010 : Collaboration with English designers from Peter Pilotto.
The Name
The name was chosen by the original designers, they chose Kipling for its pronunciationPronunciation
Pronunciation refers to the way a word or a language is spoken, or the manner in which someone utters a word. If one is said to have "correct pronunciation", then it refers to both within a particular dialect....
in different languages. They aimed at finding a name that wouldn’t have any strange or unexpected meanings abroad.
The Monkey
The monkey key-hanger is usually associated to Kipling brand. Every Kipling bag comes with a monkey key-hanger. Originally, there was only one type of monkeyMonkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
, which could be easily recognized by its shape and characteristic coloured fur. Since Kipling has developed several collections representing several styles, the monkey evolved as well. Now each collection corresponds to a type of monkeys.
Names and colours
The original furry monkeys from Kipling brand have a labelLabel
A label is a piece of paper, polymer, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or article, on which is printed a legend, information concerning the product, addresses, etc. A label may also be printed directly on the container or article....
with a name on it. The different names come from Kipling employees all over the world. Each name corresponds to a colour.
Main collections
- Basic
- City
- G*rilla Girlz
- Soft Power
- Sport Intense
- IF
- Vintage
- Vintage leather
Kipling in figures
Kipling is part of the “outdoor” group of the VF Corporation, which also includes as principal brands Wrangler, LeeLee (Jeans)
Lee is a brand of denim jeans, first produced in 1889 in Salina, Kansas. The company is owned by VF Corporation, the largest apparel company in the world. Its headquarters is currently in Merriam, Kansas, just outside of Kansas City, Missouri...
, The North Face
The North Face
The North Face, Inc. is an American outdoor product company specializing in outerwear, fleece, shirts, footwear, and equipment such as backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags....
, Vans
Vans
Vans is an American based manufacturer of sneakers, skateboarding shoes, BMX shoes, snowboarding boots and other shoe types.- History :On March 16, 1966, at 704 E. Broadway, in Anaheim, California, brothers Paul Van Doren, James Van Doren, and three other partners opened up their first store...
, Reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
, Eastpak
Eastpak
Eastpak is an American manufacturer of packs, bags, luggage and clothing. It is part of the VF Corporation, brand portfolio which is one of the world's largest apparel companies.-Founding:...
, Napapijri, Nautica
Nautica
Nautica is a US based apparel brand of the VF Corporation featuring primarily men's sportswear. Nautica was founded in 1983 by clothing designer, David Chu, and a partner. It was purchased for cash and stock in 1984 by State-O-Main, a New York based apparel company. State-O-Main changed its name to...
, John Varvatos
John Varvatos
John Varvatos is an American contemporary high fashion menswear designer.- Biography :The Varvatos family are originally from the small village of Poulata on the Greek island of Cefalonia. John Varvatos was born in Detroit and grew up in Allen Park, a Downriver community situated south of the city...
and 7 for all Mankind. In 2009 the total revenues of VF Corporation were $7,220 million.
Kipling brand employs around 220 people in sales and marketing worldwide plus several hundred more people in VF support organizations and factories. Retail sales in 2009 were approximately €350.000.000, which means approximately 6 million Kipling bags were sold that year around the world - which equates to 23 bags a minute! Kipling brand directly employs in sales, marketing and design plus many more people in VF organizations and factories.
Kipling bags can be bought from Kipling’s 215 stores and 450 corners and shop-in-shops, or from 4,000 multi-brand stores and websites.
Kipling around the world
Kipling has opened retail stores in many of the world’s most famous shoppingShopping
Shopping is the examining of goods or services from retailers with the intent to purchase at that time. Shopping is an activity of selection and/or purchase. In some contexts it is considered a leisure activity as well as an economic one....
locations. Presently, there are over 200 Kipling stores worldwide, which are to be found in cities like Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Sao Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
.
Kipling bags are also sold in over 500 corners and shop-in-shop inside department stores plus distribution in 4.200 multi-brand stores.
Location of the headquarters
Kipling’s headquarters were moved in 2004 after the brand was bought by VF Corporation, and are since located in BornemBornem
Bornem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Bornem proper, Hingene, Wintam, Mariekerke and Weert. On January 1, 2006 Bornem had a total population of 20,064...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Ownership and shareholding
- 1987 January: Kipling company was founded in Antwerp, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
- 1992: The original founders sold the Kipling company to a private owner
- 1999: Kipling sold to Swiss bank UBS Capital
- 2002: Kipling re-purchased by the private owner
- 2004: Kipling purchased by VF Corporation
Autumn/winter 2008: Collection with Gloria Coelho
Gloria Coelho, in partnership with Kipling, launched its preview winter collection 2008 during the São PauloSão Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
Fashion Week
Fashion Week
A fashion week is a fashion industry event, lasting approximately one week, which allows fashion designers, brands or "houses" to display their latest collections in runway shows and buyers and the media to take a look at the latest trends. Most importantly, these events let the industry know...
. 4 bags were created out of this association, representing both Kipling and Brazilian Gloria Coelho’s styles.
Spring/summer 2009: Collection with Cathy Pill
Cathy Pill is a Belgian fashion designer. She qualified from La CambreLa Cambre
L'École de la Cambre, more known as La Cambre, is a renowned architecture and visual arts school founded by Henry van de Velde in Brussels in 1926....
, paraded during the Haute Couture week in Paris and sells her creations over the world. Kipling and Cathy Pill have worked together to create 9 lamb leather handbags for the Cathy Pill Haute Couture collection.
Autumn/winter 2009: Collection with Girls From Omsk
Valéria Siniouchkina, is a Belgian-Russian designer and founder of Girls From Omsk. She participated to the collaboration with Kipling for spring-summer 2009 collection. The collection resulting from this collaboration featured graphic, urban prints and vivid colours.Spring/Summer 2010: Collection with El Delgado Buil
Anna and Macarena, Spanish designers from El Delgado Buil, designed six bags and three accessories, using heart decoration, locks of hair prints, nylon with nubuck trimmings and fringes. The Kipling by El Delgado Buil collection included was presented at the spring-summer 2010 catwalk at Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week.Autumn/winter 2010: Collection with Peter Pilotto
The label Peter Pilotto is headed by designers Christopher De Vos and Peter Pilotto. The artistic director from Kipling, and the two winners of the Emerging Talent AwardCouncil of Fashion Designers of America
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association of over 350 of America’s foremost fashion and accessory designers. As of 2009, Diane von Fürstenberg is the group's President and Steven Kolb is the Executive Director...
2009 collaborated to create two different bag collections, with two types of prints. One features space and the other mechanics. The result of this collaboration is 11 bags and 5 accessories, among which backpacks, bum bags
Fanny pack
A fanny pack , belt pack , belly bag , Buffalo pouch , hip sack , waist bag , hip pack , bum bag , cangurera , banano or moon bag is a small fabric pouch secured with a zipper and worn by use of a strap around the hips or...
and shopping bags. The collaboration between Peter Pilotto and Kipling should go on for another collection due Spring 2011. According to Pilotto, “When we started thinking about designing the print for this collection, we thought of an intergalactic traveller, a sort of otherworldly nomad who is exploring and discovering”.
Elise Crombez AW09-SS10
Elise CrombezElise Crombez
Élise Crombez is a Belgian fashion model. She grew up and went to school in Koksijde. She was discovered in 1999 when she decided to enter a fashion contest with a friend of hers. The contest was held in the Belgian town of Roeselaere...
was chosen as model for the autumn winter 2009, as well as for spring summer 2010 Kipling collection.
Anouck Lepère AW10
Anouck LepèreAnouck Lepere
Anouck Lepere is a Belgian model.Lepere was studying architecture in Antwerp, when she was persuaded by her friends Dries van Noten and Olivier Theyskens to try modelling. She first appeared on the runways in Paris in 2000 and is currently signed with IMG Models...
was chosen as model for the autumn winter 2010 Kipling collection. She is also posing for Peter Pilotto’s collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
with Kipling.
iPhone Applications
- Weather broadcast / collections / store locator iPhoneIPhoneThe iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
application, named KWeather, was released on the 3 January 2010. This free application allows the user to access information about the weather as well as to consult the current Kipling catalogue, and find the nearest Kipling shop.
- Kipling game iPhoneIPhoneThe iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
application, named KipMonkey, was released on the 7 May 2010. This free application includes a match-three puzzle game featuring the emblematic monkey from G*rilla Girlz collection.