Cotélac, French-style prints
Age isn't a gauge of worth: a saying that could be the mantra of Cotélac, a dynamic young brand, founded in the Jura in the 1990's. Renowned for its high-end ready-to-wear, with prints, as creative as they are subtle, that have already travelled around the globe, the fashion house has also put its name to leather goods, shoes and accessories.
Extensive textile know-how.
French brand founded by Pierre Pernod, creator of Tehen, and the designer Raphaëlle Cavalli, Cotélac came into being in 1993 on the banks of Nantua Lake in the Jura. From the outset, its lines of clothing were created skilfully, especially in the realms of treating fabrics. It must be said that Raphaëlle Cavalli specialised in textiles, specifically working with knitted fabrics, which had a starring role in Cotélac's first collection. Pleats, inlays, motifs and other refined details are also signatures of this brand new fashion house. Firstly focussed on feminine ready-to-wear, little by little the label broadened its horizons. Thus, the 2000's saw the launch of acoté, a line aimed at a younger public, and Xx, the first menswear collection.
If high-end ready-to-wear still represents the core of the Cotélac wardrobe, the label also proposes leather goods, accessories and shoes. Between very practical foldable formats and forays into fringes, acidulated colours and motifs full of freshness, Cotélac bags are brimming over with creativity. The belts are designed in the same vein, with fine motifs embossed in the leather, and vibrant assortments of textures, prints and colours. Finally, as far as shoes are concerned, there are ballet pumps, trainers, sandals and espadrilles made of leather or printed fabrics.
Creative partnerships.
Today, the label boasts 110 boutiques all around the world, from the United States to South Korea. Under the guidance of Raphaëlle Cavalli, who is still leading its style department, Cotélac stands out through its creative engagement, especially in support of emerging designers. In partnership with the magazine Kiblind, the brand also offers different designers and illustrators the chance to reveal their vision of the label. That’s how they get to offer capsule collections, like Cotélac x Brecht Evens, a line full of life and colours, undertaken in collaboration with the unique Belgian comic book artist. The latest to date, the Spring-Summer 2017 Cotélac collection, is characterised by jackets with ¾-length sleeves, lightweight shirts with ethnic motifs and small dresses with primitive prints.
Cotélac has a reputation for lightweight silk print dresses, that can easily be accessorised with a lightweight print scarf. As for menswear, the shirts and T-shirts are admired for their subtle style, making them an essential addition in all masculine wardrobes. An immersion in the feminine universe of Cotélac isn't possible without the following three must-have pieces: