With over 20 years of experience, Rune Park and Robby Vekemans, the former Fashion Directors of Henrik Vibskov and SN3, teamed up to create a new haven for consumers. Created by architects Gonzalez Hasse AAS, the brightly lit interior, concrete floors, and surrounding white walls gives an industrial, yet futuristic feel.
Breaking away from the traditional bricks-and-mortar retail model and e-commerce activity, omnichannel TEM-PLATE doubles up as an event and exhibition space. The pair are passionate about introducing new and unknown brands and designers to the Portuguese landscape and their international e-commerce customers.
Expect to find the coolest up-and-coming designer brands from all over the world sitting alongside established fashion labels. The curated, eclectic mix includes the likes of Burberry, Alan Crocetti, Comme des Garçons, Marine Serre and Richard Quinn.
Adopting an unconventional approach and embracing technology, both in-store and online, TEM-PLATE is a glimpse of what the future of retail looks like.
We thought we’d have a quick Q&A with Rune and Robby, from what catches their trained eyes to the importance of shows and presentations, find out what they had to say below.
Z: How many seasons do you like to see a brand present, before buying into it?
T: We like to see brands and designers for 2 or 3 seasons before placing an order. The design development is essential, it allows you to see the future collections as part of a long-lasting partnership.
Z: At which of the fashion weeks did you pick up new talents?
T: Every season we try to travel to as many new fashion weeks as possible. The main fashion weeks for us are Paris, Milan, and Tokyo.
Z: Which one do you mostly place orders at?
T: Paris Fashion Week is still the main city for buying emerging designers. So many designers come to Paris to show. It is the busiest, especially from the number of buyers visiting.
Z: Where is the best place to meet a buyer?
T: Before the market, we always pre-book appointments because we always have a super busy schedule. We know exactly which brands we have to meet and where. It doesn’t matter if they are at a trade show, multi-brand showroom, or on their own, we will go wherever they are located.
Z: How important are fashion shows and presentations today?
T: For emerging brands, it is always important to be able to showcase their design DNA to the fullest. With digital media today, they can do that in so many ways. What is also important, is that just from looking at their online presence, you can get a good idea of their brand identity. Being able to recognise and understand PR and marketing is key.
Z: Are fashion shows worthwhile investments?
T: If the design and digital materials are strong enough, we don’t need a fashion show to convince us to buy. Unfortunately, it’s only selected shows we have time to attend due to other buying appointments.
Z: What is one piece of advice you have for brands that are trying to succeed?
T: Keep creating – Dare to be different and stand out from the crowd.
