PINK TARTAN
Kimberley Newport-Mimran is the President and Head Designer of Pink Tartan, the womens wear line she co-founded in Toronto in 2002. The New York showroom opened in 2004, and the line is now housed at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Holt Renfrew and The Bay as well as specialty stores across North America, Dubai and Seoul. Newport-Mimran has also designed sleek retro-fabulous uniforms for Canada's boutique Porter Airlines and the uber-hip rooftop bar at 60 Thompson in New York City, Hollywood's Roosevelt Hotel Tropicana bar and the concierges at Holt Renfrew.
Growing up in Niagara Falls, where she was born in 1968, Newport-Mimran was captivated by her grandmother Aubrey. "She was a lady who lunched and played bridge. She served tea sandwiches in pearls and a polished shoe. Always topped off with a perfect coat." This romantic and grand formative image remains at the heart of her granddaughter's style ethos. She sums it up: "Simplicity is the secret to elegance."
By the age of 14 Newport-Mimran was on the front lines of fashion, selling retail where she has a passion for clothes and working with her customers. She studied fashion merchandising and manufacturing management at college. She began her full time career in the buying office at the Hudson Bay co north Americas oldest retailer. She went on to product development and merchandising and specialized in Denim and Menswear. That is wear she learned the importance of structure and tailoring. "Execution is key," became her lifelong mantra. She moved to a lifestyle Caban, learning, she says, "Sourcing is an art: finding fabric and manufacturing makes the difference in luxury design." There she met and married the CEO, Joe Mimran. Today the pair are Canadian fashion royalty; Mimran launched the Joe Fresh mass fashion phenomenon after he sold Club Monaco to Ralph Lauren. The couple's daughter Jacqueline was born in 2001, shortly before Newport-Mimran struck out on her own designer path.
Pink Tartan had a clear identity from the first. The crisp cotton twill menswear shirting cut snug to a woman's body and finished with elegant French cuffs remain a staple today. She tweaks the modern classic every season, adding a ruffle or a fresh new color.
Other modern classics followed, and are continually re-invented: essential pieces such as the peacoat; what she calls "the technical black pant"--a wonder of hip-snug engineering; the sexy silk jersey dress in wrap or deep-V front; and there is always a Paris-chic take on the little black cocktail dress. With a nod to grandmother Aubrey, there is often a little coat to match.
"I'm a sportswear designer," says Newport-Mimran. " Clothes to live your life in and easily transition from day to night. "
As her range and sophistication as a designer grew so did her hunger to explore her own edgier sensibilities: recent collections are spiked with sequins for day and louche hoodies. But the continuum remains understated super-luxe fabrics with body, and seam articulation that allows everything to move freely. Ladylike, yet never prim.
With the launch of Seventy-Seven, the Lifestyle Concept by Pink Tartan, all the facets of Newport-Mimran's life and work come together. Just down the block from where she once sold coats, a former interior design showroom and once antique shop has been transformed into a flagship for Newport-Mimran to give context to her clothing. One of the oldest heritage buildings in Yorkville has transformed by internationally acclaimed design team Burdi-Felik with Mimrans sensibility to an amazing jewel of retail space. These rooms are filled with the entire collection and a hand picked edited selection of objects, books and complementary designer pieces that illustrate Newport-Mimran's inspirations. The Perfect jean, the perfect riding boot to pair with her own pieces. Her favorite slipper in the world, done by Churches of London. A matte black charcoal toothbrush from Japan.
The complete picture is tied together like the bow of a nipped-in waist on one of Newport-Mimran's perfect little black dress.
Growing up in Niagara Falls, where she was born in 1968, Newport-Mimran was captivated by her grandmother Aubrey. "She was a lady who lunched and played bridge. She served tea sandwiches in pearls and a polished shoe. Always topped off with a perfect coat." This romantic and grand formative image remains at the heart of her granddaughter's style ethos. She sums it up: "Simplicity is the secret to elegance."
By the age of 14 Newport-Mimran was on the front lines of fashion, selling retail where she has a passion for clothes and working with her customers. She studied fashion merchandising and manufacturing management at college. She began her full time career in the buying office at the Hudson Bay co north Americas oldest retailer. She went on to product development and merchandising and specialized in Denim and Menswear. That is wear she learned the importance of structure and tailoring. "Execution is key," became her lifelong mantra. She moved to a lifestyle Caban, learning, she says, "Sourcing is an art: finding fabric and manufacturing makes the difference in luxury design." There she met and married the CEO, Joe Mimran. Today the pair are Canadian fashion royalty; Mimran launched the Joe Fresh mass fashion phenomenon after he sold Club Monaco to Ralph Lauren. The couple's daughter Jacqueline was born in 2001, shortly before Newport-Mimran struck out on her own designer path.
Pink Tartan had a clear identity from the first. The crisp cotton twill menswear shirting cut snug to a woman's body and finished with elegant French cuffs remain a staple today. She tweaks the modern classic every season, adding a ruffle or a fresh new color.
Other modern classics followed, and are continually re-invented: essential pieces such as the peacoat; what she calls "the technical black pant"--a wonder of hip-snug engineering; the sexy silk jersey dress in wrap or deep-V front; and there is always a Paris-chic take on the little black cocktail dress. With a nod to grandmother Aubrey, there is often a little coat to match.
"I'm a sportswear designer," says Newport-Mimran. " Clothes to live your life in and easily transition from day to night. "
As her range and sophistication as a designer grew so did her hunger to explore her own edgier sensibilities: recent collections are spiked with sequins for day and louche hoodies. But the continuum remains understated super-luxe fabrics with body, and seam articulation that allows everything to move freely. Ladylike, yet never prim.
With the launch of Seventy-Seven, the Lifestyle Concept by Pink Tartan, all the facets of Newport-Mimran's life and work come together. Just down the block from where she once sold coats, a former interior design showroom and once antique shop has been transformed into a flagship for Newport-Mimran to give context to her clothing. One of the oldest heritage buildings in Yorkville has transformed by internationally acclaimed design team Burdi-Felik with Mimrans sensibility to an amazing jewel of retail space. These rooms are filled with the entire collection and a hand picked edited selection of objects, books and complementary designer pieces that illustrate Newport-Mimran's inspirations. The Perfect jean, the perfect riding boot to pair with her own pieces. Her favorite slipper in the world, done by Churches of London. A matte black charcoal toothbrush from Japan.
The complete picture is tied together like the bow of a nipped-in waist on one of Newport-Mimran's perfect little black dress.
