Swiss menswear designer Edo Popken first came to Dallas several years ago. A contribution to the DIFFA Collection and new retail store later, and it’s now his U.S. home
DESIGN DISTRICT PIONEER | Edo Popken’s retail store, the first of its kind in the Design District, is his Dallas home. The grand opening weekend celebration is currently underway.
J. DENTON BRICKER
Contributing Writer
dentonbricker@gmail.com
Purple pants, a fuchsia and plaid shirt, pink socks and green cufflinks. A supervillain costume for the new Spider-Man? No, just an every day outfit for Swiss designer Edo Popken. This is a man who embraces a life full of bright and diverse color — wearing it to near perfection.
A fourth generation fashion entrepreneur, Popken’s passion for clothing came from not only his family’s extensive history but also his own adolescent experiences.
“I designed my first piece when I was 13 on a trip with my parents,” he says. “A tailor in the lobby produced it from my drawing after I went out into the streets of Hong Kong to find the fabric I wanted.”
Though Popken does respect and draw inspiration from the work of his forefathers, especially his great-grandfather, he also employs his own tastes and creativity.
“I brought upscale menswear back to the Popken family and added style and fashion to the bespoke approach; a combination very hard to find. The family sees what they started is flourishing in a modern and innovative way, while respecting the artisan workmanship and values they provided,” Popken says.
If you don’t recognize the luxury designer’s style from his flagship store in Zurich, then you might from his continued involvement with DIFFA. It was that support that eventually led him to Dallas, where he opened his first U.S. retail store this summer. Edo Popken also happens to be the first retail store to open in the Design District.
“I hope people recognize that the Design District is the right place for us, that they see it’s innovative to visit, and that the district will benefit from us being there. We are not from Dallas but admire it,” Popken says.
The store feels like walking into an industrial, multi-leveled chic loft with tall metallic shelves and sleek racks displaying vibrant products. The oversized logo on a mobile wall allows for expansion or constriction of the space based on store events.
“I will personally be in Dallas frequently and when there we will invite friends, supporters and customers to fine exclusive fashion parties, similar to what we do in our Zurich ProFashion Lounge. I might DJ for an hour, mix some Edo’ritas or bring some of my own champagne from France,” Popken says. Though the store is currently open for business, the official grand opening is this weekend — at the height of Dallas gay Pride.
All of his products are produced in Europe, eco-friendly and made through ethically correct craftsmanship. The limited edition dress shirts are truly exclusive, as there are only 111 in each line and every shirt is numbered according to production and presents meticulous colors. Popken also specifically designs silk ties to pair with his dress shirts for the perfect complement of color. His bold dress pants offer divinely hued details meant to accentuate the waist in addition to the front and back pockets, hitting all the right places.
Of all his offerings, the club blazer is the store’s featured product — and a favorite of Popken. The sharp jacket is actually based on the same navy two- buttoned, fine wool model sold at his great-grandfather’s men’s store in 1880 that Popken has ripped apart and rebuilt from scratch.
“It’s a must have in every wardrobe, it goes with practically everything from fine dining to clubbing,” he says. “It can be mixed or matched and dressy or casual. With its modern cut and stylish details, it is simply the most versatile piece out there.”
The cool coat brings versatility to a whole new level through the offered customizable aspects. Almost everything can be selected to the client’s taste, including the material, collar, lining, piping, elbow patches, threading and more, down to the buttons. Not into logos? Go without one for a cleaner look. There is a true and rare opportunity to not only play with the unique and modern stylizations of a classic profile but also shape it into a one-of-a-kind item.
“The silhouette is my design; on that base you can play,” Popken says. “If I feel like what you choose doesn’t look good, we’ll be honest and tell you because we want you to simply look stunning every time you wear any of my designs or outfits. We would sell more if we weren’t that honest, but that would be untruthful to our motto, ‘we want the customer to come back, not the merchandise.’” Some of the minor base details are tweaked every other season to further ensure its rarity.
Color also bleeds into Popken’s accessories; they augment his core products, which further transform clients into gorgeous mosaics.
“If you buy an outfit from us, we want you to get the total look. You can find prism pink socks from my color palette, as well as a saffron yellow leather belt and vintage orange leather message bags. It’s about the lifestyle and uniqueness of my concept that makes it complete,” Popken says.
These vibrant accessories are strong enough to stand on their own and even help to make a name for clients through their use of accessories. For example, you could be the guy at the airport with the divine, orange bag. Future expansion plans for accessories include leather loafers and moccasins after Popken struggled to find the right shape and color.
“The first prototypes are in the works as I write this, made in my neighborhood of course,” he says.
Where else can you get a hot pink, loden blazer with lime green accents?
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition September 13, 2013.