Noun Adds Dresses to Spring '05
Noun (pronounced “noon”), a contemporary tops line from France that is gaining notoriety for its bold prints, is expanding into dresses, tunics and skirts for Spring ’05.
The 5-year-old company introduced 40 pieces last Spring but will have about 100 for the upcoming season. The line has been distributed in the United States for two years and is sold locally through the Rep Et Trois showroom in the California Market Center. Its warehouse is in Commerce, Calif.
The company experienced threefold growth over the past year, said President David Jehan. The main attractions have been colorful, dramatic prints and fit.
“We work hard on fit. We put lots of R&D into it,” Jehan said. “We have 90 prints and about 20 bodies. The new dresses are easy to wear. There are no zips. It’s like a T-shirt.”
The cotton and mesh pieces wholesale from $38 to $88.
Rep Et Trois showroom owner Michael Gae said the line has performed strongly in California.
“In a market which has its share of prints, Noun’s exclusive prints are some of the best out there,” he said. “They stand alone, with the exception of maybe Custo Barcelona, as far as printed art-to-wear goes.”
The collection has been picked up by Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor and Neiman Marcus’ Christmas catalog.
—Robert McAllister
