New Brand Alert: COG The Big Smoke
Each season we try to bring a new line to The Hive. Sometimes they work (Apiece Apart) and sometimes they don’t (Joseph), but I always place these new designer lines with high hopes.
Last August, we were in Fashionhaus, a showroom that represents Allude and a ton of amazing European lines. One of the women working the showroom was wearing the coolest jacket and I asked about its designer. “COG The Big Smoke,” she replied.
I mean, you have to admit, that’s a name. Of course, I asked what it meant. It was much easier explained than I thought. The first part is named after the founder's childhood teddy bear, “COG” and the second half comes from London’s longtime nickname, “The Big Smoke,” her hometown.
Noriko, the founder, was born in Japan and raised in London. Her designs are based on a less-is-more philosophy and she hand-draws all of the patterns. They are made in Japan and cut and sewn out of jersey material.
Here is the very interesting part about the line: it’s one-size-fits-all. I know, how can that actually work? Well, it really does. Okay, it fits size 2 to 12, but it really does fit all those sizes and it looks great on everyone. I didn’t believe them at the showroom when I saw them. They had three different people wearing it that were all very different shapes and sizes – and it looked good on all of them!
