Latest news with #Kurky
Forbes
7 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Master Perfumer Francis Kurkdjian On His Newest Scent, Kurky
Francis Kurkdjian Kurky is the latest release from the famed French-Armenian perfumer, Francis Kurkdjian, who's also the nose behind cult classics like Baccarat Rouge 540 and of course, founder of his namesake fragrance house, Maison Francis Kurkdjian. Since launching the brand in 2009, now part of the LVMH family, Kurkdjian has built a reputation for offering elegant scents, and creating what he calls a 'fragrance wardrobe' to suit every mood and occasion. Kurky by Maison Francis Kurkdjian The latest fragrance to join the family, Kurky is a playful, color-splashed scent that pays homage to his childhood (short for Kurkdjian), channeling the freedom and fun of one's inner child, tapping into the whimsical side of the Maison — the master perfumer tells us more. Francis Kurkdjian: Inspiration is the hidden part of creation. It is also the most difficult creative stage to explain for me as creative inputs may come from diverse sources. Kurky comes during a moment of my creative life when I want to introduce the idea of letting go. I wanted something that would make people smile, a scent that contrasts with the overbearing seriousness of an industry dominated by pompous adjectives. Kurky is beautifully simple, fun, lighthearted, and there to awaken one's inner child. 'All grown-ups were once children, but only few of them remember it,' said Saint-Exupéry's Little Prince; it's an antidote to grey days, to pessimism. Instead, Kurky is an invitation to experience life through a rainbow of colors, and for grown-ups who dare to dream like kids. Maison Francis Kurkdjian carries this part of childhood within it, and has done since its earliest days; in 2009, Les bulles d'Agathe (Agathe's bubbles), was a5 nod to the olfactory education of the youngest children with scented soap bubbles. It's about the pleasure of simple things; there's nothing more chic. Francis Kurkdjian as a child FK: I always start with the name when I develop a fragrance. It gives me direction; it frames all the ideas I may have in mind. It works for me as a mood board. Since I can remember, people always had a hard time pronouncing my Armenian family name. So Kurky is a friendly nickname given to me by my very close friends, it's short for Kurkdjian, and some of them still call me that since I was little. I like the fact it resonates well with quirky and kooky, and sounds friendly. The name was born spontaneously, without too much deliberation, out of creativity and freedom. Like a sudden smile or a burst of laughter. FK: When creating Kurky, my vision was a mouthwatering scent that would feel juicy, fun and quirky, a little addictive but far from traditional gourmand accords. It needed to be sweet enough to make your mouth water like a sweet treat, but still maintain a light, freshness to it. Imagine a large bubble of musk, to which I attached a tutti-frutti accord with facets of peach and raspberry, with a subtle hint of creamy vanilla. Like a sweet, tangy candy. Kurky by Maison Francis Kurkdjian FK: In my mind, the Maison Francis Kurkdjian customer is typically someone who values quality, sophistication, and emotional connection through scent. I guess they follow my interest and my love for aesthetically driven ideas and/or products, appreciating art, design, and craftsmanship. I am emotionally intuitive, so fragrance is for me as a form of self-expression. I believe my wearers of my scents are curious and seek uniqueness beyond mainstream trends. I do not believe in a fragrance being perfect for only one type of person. To me, a fragrance, like how you dress yourself from day to day, should reflect your mood, your personality, or who you want to be in that moment. This philosophy is what I called the 'Fragrance Wardrobe'. Finally, I hope Kurky will touch all those who feel that insatiable desire for freedom, those who see life unconventionally, while bringing out a smile on their face. FK: All my creations are special and dear to me, and I treasure theirs behind the scenes stories. Kurky isn't about the past or nostalgia at all. On the contrary, it is resolutely contemporary. It reflects a form of surprise, that wonder that can be lost once we enter adulthood. Kurky is about awakening the child you once were, to break away from all the rules imposed on grown-ups. It means jumping into a puddle, allowing yourself to love candy…even when you're a grown-up! FK: Later this year, we will have an amazing brand-new activation for our iconic scent Baccarat Rouge 540, and this fall, we'll be hosting in Paris a very special celebration of my 30th career anniversary. Stay tuned!
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Macy's to Develop TV Series on Women in Retail
Macy's has a big presence on TV through coverage of its 4th of July Fireworks celebration and Thanksgiving Day Parade — and it's about to get bigger. America's department store has acquired an exclusive option to develop a fictionalized television series based on the bestselling biography 'When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion' by award-winning author and journalist and Julie Satow. The book is about women who shaped some of the most iconic department and specialty stores in America, including Dorothy Shaver who led Lord & Taylor, Hortense Odlum who led Bonwit Teller and Geraldine Stutz, who ran Henri Bendel. All three of those stores are no longer in business but not forgotten. Margaret Getchell, the trailblazing executive who transformed Macy's in the 19th century, will also be added to the adapted story. The women in their day were retail trailblazers in an industry always dominated by men. More from WWD EXCLUSIVE: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Unveils Kurky Fragrance at Bloomingdale's Macy's Turns Profitable in Q4 Despite Net Sales Decline Macy's Inks New Deal to Expand Broadcasting Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Parade Events Getchell started as a cash clerk but rose up the ranks to become influential in broadening Macy's assortments into categories not previously sold, innovating marketing and window displays, and even cleverly getting Macy's to install a soda fountain at the back of the store so shoppers would have to pass by a range of merchandise and often select an item before getting a refreshment. Under the television deal, which was led by Macy's chief marketing officer Sharon Otterman, Macy's is currently in the process of securing a showrunner and attaching talent for the lead roles. Such details, including the timing of the series and how many episodes, will be revealed at a later date, Macy's indicated. 'These are stories of resilience, ambition and creativity — women who understood the power of storytelling and branding long before it was a business strategy,' said Otterman in a statement. ''When Women Ran Fifth Avenue' celebrates all of the pioneering women who helped shape retail fashion and their enduring legacy, women like Macy's Margaret Getchell,' said Satow in a statement. 'I can't wait to see these trailblazing stories reach a wider audience, inspiring the next generation of innovators in fashion and business, and bring 'When Women Ran Fifth Avenue' from the page to screen.' The biography made the bestseller lists of The New York Times and USA Today. Macy's got the rights to the project through 'a competitive bidding situation,' the company said in its statement Tuesday morning. Recently, Macy's signed a new 10-year rights deal with NBCUniversal, for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Macy's 4th of July Fireworks on NBC, Peacock and Telemundo. The 10-year agreement will include broadcast and streaming rights to a Macy's Parade-eve special and a new special program to be announced at a later date, as well as the 4th of July Fireworks and Thanksgiving Day Parade. Macy's other big annual event is its spring flower show. The retailer expects to build audiences for these events, which are designed and created by Macy's Studios. In 2024, the 98th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade reached 31.7 million viewers and the 48th Macy's 4th of July Fireworks drew 7.6 million viewers. Best of WWD Macy's Is Closing 66 Stores in 2025 — Here's the List, Live Updates Inside the Demise of Lord & Taylor COVID-19 Spikes Elevate Retail Concerns
