By: DENISA PALSHA
The king of fashion statements is trying his hand in luxury active sportswear. And we are loving it!
When one thinks of Philipp Plein, the tagline “go big, or go home” comes to mind. Who doesn’t know the signature leather jackets and dresses bejeweled in Swarovski stones, or rock ’n’ roll ensembles with skulls with no sequin spared? The German lawyer-turned-designer (or “international man of luxury,” as I like to call him) helms a brand that’s a favorite among tastemakers who love to stand out. For the last 25 years, Plein has dominated the luxury-goods world, offering everything from baby wear to men’s and womenswear, to perfume, and home furnishings. He is now breaking into active sportswear with 300 stores globally, opened in a record 36 months (all accepting cryptocurrency, by the way.) With runway shows, high media appeal, and mansions he resides in from Cannes to Los Angeles, Plein is an undeniable success story. Yet, there is so much mystery around him.
I caught up with Plein at his Bel Air residence during a star-studded fashion show in support of a grand opening of the first Plein Sport store on the West Coast. Mesmerized by the jaw-dropping, crystals-covered catwalk ensembles, codesigned with costume couturier Jacob Meir, I was left wondering why sportswear was his next playground.
“Plein Sport is a game changer. The luxury active sportswear market is hotter than ever. Eighty-five percent is dominated by only 4-5 brands, yet demand is high. We bring new alternatives and act very fast,” Plein adds with high confidence. The new Beverly Center concept destination opened mid-March, evolved from Plein Sport Truck, a mobile store traveling across Europe, into a brick-and-mortar retail space. Featuring skateboards, neon graffiti and other iconic Plein emblems, the concept reflects Plein’s remarkable connection to street and gym cultures.
“Each item is designed uniquely, combining industry-leading technologies for the ultimate performance, with luxury style and comfort. I created Plein Sport because I love its meaning, developing a community of people with the same values surrounding personal well-being,” added Plein. “We listen to people and want to give them the experience they are looking for,” adds Plein with excitement.
Plein Sport focuses above all on the performance and functionality in a continued exploration of the convergence of tech and fashion. It includes activewear in innovative fabrics that renounce denim, applications and leather, and centres around sneakers with cutting-edge shapes and soles that are the result of in-depth research and large-scale investments in development.
Plein’s expansions of innovative niche offerings has attracted the wealthiest fans from Vegas to Monaco, converting the toughest critics into loyalists. But while he drives the latest Rolls-Royce, flies on private jets and lives his “more is more” lifestyle, one can’t resist falling for his disarming “humble guy” charm at the core of it all.
“I came from nothing. I work very hard,” he explains. “I am a dreamer and believer. I like to make people’s dreams come true.”
