NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2001--Marrying design and fashion, W Hotels and fashion designer Kenneth Cole, today, formed a partnership whereby the designer will outfit W associates in sophisticated urban attire that will complement W's sleek, elegant design.
Cole's unique designs will be showcased at W's 16 U.S. hotels, beginning with W Chicago - Lakeshore. The announcement, which represents Cole's first hotel partnership, came from Barry Sternlicht, Chairman & C.E.O of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Kenneth Cole of Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc.
Just as W broke the mold in the hotel industry when they introduced sophisticated high-style design, world class restaurants, and Living Room lobbies, Kenneth Cole's new look for W features cool, modern clothes one would expect to see on a fashionable city street versus behind a front desk. Designed to make associates virtually indistinguishable from guests, the line includes charcoal pinstriped pants for men with black button down dress shirts or turtlenecks. Black leather belts with silver flat front buckles and black leather blazers complete the look. Women staffers wear similar charcoal pinstriped pants, a sexy sleeveless matte jersey drape front shirt in black and a leather blazer.
The alignment is perfect for us, says Kenneth Cole. W Hotels' modern design and sophisticated atmospheres are a great place to showcase our uniform designs. The outfits we create represent a dramatic departure from the stoic uniforms that hotel employees have traditionally worn. After all, we are both in the same business of knowing what is INN.
From its inception in 1998, the W Brand has been known for its dynamic alliances with renowned partners such as nightlife impresario Rande Gerber, famed restaurateur Todd English and hot designer David Rockwell. Along the same lines, they have chosen Cole for his sexy and unique approach to clothing design.
Kenneth Cole's incredible sense of style perfectly complements W Hotel's trend-setting image and philosophy, says Starwood C.E.O. Barry Sternlicht. Our associates will work in cool clothes they would wear on their own time. They will look great, feel great, and this will translate into better service to our guests.
W's reach extends throughout America and beyond, with properties in New York, Atlanta, San Francisco, Seattle, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, Newark (CA), Sydney, Australia, and a soon-to-open hotel in Times Square. Renowned for their casual elegance and urban chic, the hotels' unique combination of style and substance offer the perfect entry into the hotel business for Kenneth Cole.
The first W Hotel opened in New York in December 1998. There are now five W Hotels in New York City (W New York, W New York - Court, W New York - Tuscany, W New York - Union Square and W New York - Times Square) and 16 hotels brand-wide in the U.S. and abroad. New W Hotels are in development or under construction in San Diego, South Beach, Miami, Mexico City and Seoul, Korea.
Parent company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 750 properties in more than 80 countries and 110,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. For more information, please visit us at www.starwoodhotels.com or visit the W website at www.whotels.com.
Currently, Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. operates 69 retail stores in the United States and sells its products internationally in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines and Canada. Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. is a designer, marketer, wholesaler and retailer of sophisticated apparel and accessories for the fashion-conscious professional. The company offers women's and men's shoes, apparel, outerwear, sunglasses, eyeglasses, hosiery, jewelry, belts, watches, small leather goods, luggage, women's handbags and scarves, and men's tailored clothing, loungewear, underwear, ties, dress shirts, and fragrance for fall 2002. For more information, please visit us at www.kennethcole.com or call toll free 800.KEN.COLE.
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