John Lewis Launches Exclusive Clements Ribeiro Collection For AW11

Sept. 2, 2011 - PRLog -- Renowned for their mastery of wool, layering prints and clashing colours, husband and wife team Suzanne Clements and Brazilian-born Inacio Ribeiro have captured elements of their high fashion collections and created a wearable, chic and playful new range for John Lewis.

Highlights of the new exclusive John Lewis range include cropped high necked military jackets, a selection of two tone pastel cashmere cardigans sporting elbow pads and luxurious yet minimal navy, cinder and mink cashmere jumper dresses. With prices ranging from £85 for a v-neck sweater and £250 for a Cocoon coat, Clements Ribeiro’s simple modern shapes and original colour combinations make their designs supremely collectable and instantly recognisable.

Suzanne Clements, one half of the eponymous label, says: “The Clements Ribeiro woman is much like the John Lewis woman – she invests in great pieces and wears them as an expression of herself. The collection we’ve created for John Lewis is all about marrying style with functionality, luxury with simplicity. For example, the embellished jacket is trend led but incorporates a wool high neck to ensure winter warmth, just as the button-down cardigan is practical but features colourful elbow pads to add character - and a touch of humour!”

The designs incorporate all the admired Clements Ribeiro trademarks, from soft cashmere and merino wool knit sweaters and daywear jumper dresses to striking military inspired jackets which are perfect for effortless desk to dinner chic.

Jo Hooper, Head of Womenswear Buying at John Lewis, says: “Suzanne and Inacio are a pleasure to work with. Their talent lies in understanding what women want and knowing how to make them feel great. The new John Lewis range is made up of instantly recognisable staple pieces which are well-made, uniquely designed for John Lewis and, most importantly, accessible and approachable for every woman.”
 
Clements Ribeiro Career Snapshot:
   Husband and wife Suzanne Clements and Inacio Ribeiro met at Central Saint Martins College in London and graduated with first class honours degrees in 1991.

   After a brief stint in Brazil they returned to London to set up their own label, Clements Ribeiro. In 2000 they agreed to take over Cacharel in Paris. However, in 2007 they decided to relaunch their own label again.

   In 1996 they won the New Generation Designers of the Year award.

   Clements Ribeiro are masters of designer collaborations, initially with the high street's Dorothy Perkins. In 2005 they were the first to rediscover Celia Birtwell and her prints. Recent collaborations include: Iittalia, Blossom Mother and Child and couturelab.com.

   The label fast became a favourite with celebrities including Nicole Kidman and Kristen Stewart.




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The John Lewis Partnership - The John Lewis Partnership operates 32 John Lewis shops across the UK (28 department stores and four John Lewis at home), johnlewis.com and 253 Waitrose supermarkets. The business has an annual turnover of nearly £8.2bn. It is the UK's largest example of worker co-ownership where all 76,500 staff are Partners in the business.
John Lewis - John Lewis, 'Britain's favourite retailer 2010'* and 'Multiple Department Store of the Year 2010' ** typically stocks more than 350,000 separate lines in its department stores. The website stocks over 150,000 products focused on the best of fashion, beauty, home and giftware and electrical items including online exclusives. johnlewis.com is consistently ranked one of the top online shopping destinations in the UK (www.johnlewis.com ). John Lewis Insurance offers a range of comprehensive insurance products - home, car, wedding and event, travel and pet insurance and life cover - delivering the usual values of expertise, trust and customer service expected from the John Lewis brand.
John Lewis is proud to be the official department store provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  
John Lewis and London 2012 - As part of this partnership with LOCOG (The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) John Lewis operates official London 2012 shops within its Oxford Street branch and from September 2011, the new Stratford shop. John Lewis is helping to furnish lounge and reception areas at key Games-time venues as well as offering Partners (staff) the opportunity to support LOCOG in the operation and build-up to the Games. Further to the sponsorship with LOCOG, John Lewis Partnership has developed 'Partners in Sport' an initiative to put something back into the community through sport which includes sponsoring several London 2012 hopefuls as well as funding sports coaches.
* Verdict consumer satisfaction index, January 2011
** The Drapers Awards for fashion retail, November 2010
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