Fashion Consultants Scout L.A. Fashion Week
Fashion consultants Michael Rosen and Ken Rubenstein have announced that they are considering opening an office of their company UK2US in Los Angeles.
The buzz leading up to this month’s Los Angeles Fashion Week, held April 12–16, attracted the two, who have individually produced fashion events for London Fashion Week, Singapore Fashion Week, Fendi and Louis Vuitton Moeuml;t Hennessy, to the idea of launching a Los Angeles branch.
Rosen said Los Angeles’ burgeoning fashion scene reminded him of London, Singapore and Australia before each launched their own fashion weeks.
“I saw what’s going on here [also happening] in London in ’87, in Singapore in ’87 and Australia in ’89,” he said.
The two consultants, who walked the California Mart and New Mart and attended some of the events during the recent Fashion Week, called the mood within the fashion community “anticipatory.”
“We feel there’s a lot here to work with but the question is what is the best way to do it,” said Rubenstein, who noted that a Los Angeles office of UK2US could provide such services as fashion consulting, runway production, event planning, marketing and merchandising advice.
“There are really strong things here and a load of enthusiasm,” said Rosen, who added that the two want to “bring to the right table what we have to offer.”
UK2US, which is currently based in Miami and London, was formed in 2000, when Rosen and Rubenstein joined forces to create One Fine Thing, a lifestyle boutique in London that carried clothing, specialty foods, furniture and home accessories.
Rosen’s resume includes designing for such labels as Basile, Trell, Marubeni and Kashiyama; producing runway shows and events for labels including Fendi, Levi Strauss & Co. and Benetton; and marketing and public relations work with London Fashion Week, Singapore Fashion Week, Antoni & Allison, Bodymap, Ozbek and Workers For Freedom.
Rubenstein’s background includes costume design, lighting and sets work, and production of special events and marketing campaigns for clients including Louis Vuitton Moeuml;t Hennessy and John Paul Mitchell Systems. His recent efforts include founding the AIDS Relief Fund For Beauty Professionals, a nonprofit philanthropy that raised more than $3 million from the beauty industry. —Alison A. Nieder
