Why the COS 10th Anniversary Collection Is the Brand’s Most Creative One Yet
Within moments of meeting COS creative director Karin Gustafsson, you understand her connection to the brand’s ethos. Like its clothes, Gustafsson has a strong but quiet persona. She also has a creative and intellectual point of view that mirrors the aesthetic. Since it launched in March 2007 in London, COS has been the affordable option for women who want thoughtful design without the Céline price tag.
Art and design have always influenced this fashion line, including the recent Agnes Martin-inspired collection. To celebrate the brand’s 10th anniversary, the design team took #inspo from German furniture designer Tim Kerp and design studio Yoy. (Kerp has a zero-waste policy.) The collection’s collapsing volumes and rectilinear silhouettes were inspired by the inventive work of Yuki Yamamoto, a Japanese product designer with Yoy.
“Each look was created like a jigsaw puzzle,” explains Gustafsson. “The shape was decided based on how best to use the entire width of the fabric so there was no waste. It was a new challenge for us.”
The shirt-dress, with its multiple layers, was the most challenging technically, but Gustafsson says it pushed the designers to create an understated and modern take on this classic look. Her favourite item in the 10-piece white-and-sand-coloured collection is the shift dress with kimono-cut sleeves.
“I love that you can dress it up or down,” she says. “It’s chic and timeless, which is what we’re all about.”
Scroll through the gallery to see the 10-piece 10th anniversary collection for COS in full.
 The collection’s collapsing volumes and rectilinear silhouettes were inspired by the inventive work of Yuki Yamamoto, a Japanese product designer with Yoy.
“Each look was created like a jigsaw puzzle,” explains Gustafsson. “The shape was decided based on how best to use the entire width of the fabric so there was no waste. It was a new challenge for us.”
The shirt-dress, with its multiple layers, was the most challenging technically, but Gustafsson says it pushed the designers to create an understated and modern take on this classic look. Her favourite item in the 10-piece white-and-sand-coloured collection is the shift dress with kimono-cut sleeves.
“I love that you can dress it up or down,” she says. “It’s chic and timeless, which is what we’re all about.”
Scroll through the gallery to see the 10-piece 10th anniversary collection for COS in full.
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