So I’m finally recovered enough to blog about the festivities from Thursday night. It was an absolutely tremendous event, one that exceeded each and every one of my expectations. After months of planning, to see it finally come to fruition is utterly rewarding. It really was more of a ceremony, and as much as it was a launch for the TABOOXJUMP collaboration, it was also very much a rite of passage for our brand. I cannot thank Taboo enough for helping us make this a reality. We are so completely fortunate to have aligned at this moment in time and we’re truly blessed for it.
The evening began at our SoHo store. We had all the traditional JUMP festival accoutrement, Serrano ham from Despana professionally sliced by Senor Alex and cases upon cases of champagne.
Then the place got crazy.
Taboo makes his grand entrance.
The interesting thing about Taboo is how engaging he can be with people. He is extremely down to earth and has become a brother to the JUMP team. The personalities simply meshed and it’s only because of this that the whole thing coalesced into such an amazing collaboration. He turned our counter into a stage that night.
After all the autographs were signed, the interviews taken, we were off to Juliet for the VIP after party. The place looked heavenly.
Then people started rolling in. DJ Atrak and Kim Stolz from America’s Next Top Model.
Lance Bass
And the guests of honor, The Black Eyed Peas.
Just prior to coming to Juliet, they had made it to another red carpet for the opening of Shingo Katori’s “Talk Like Singing”. Shingo is huge in Japan and is a member of SMAP. Taboo had presented him with a pair of the TXJ shoes and of course, he put them on right away!
It’s cool how the red works with the red carpet.
Fergie came to support and we had a chance to chat about her shoe line!
Will.I.Am
Apl.De.Ap
We had our chance to get in front of the cameras as well.
And this was later on Entertainment Tonight! Nobu, owner of Cactus Blues who just starting repping the line in Japan, me, Taboo, Shawn our Saks Buyer and Harry CEO of JUMP.
In the VIP room.
Richie Rich came too! He’s a good friend of Fergie’s.
Fergie wants us to make them in womens so she can get hers. Done!
Will kept himself busy DJing some wicked tracks.
This is a great picture.
A huge thanks to Taboo and all his people for supporting this event. Really big thanks to BMF Media and Fingerprint Communications. Also to our staff for all their hard work in preparing and to all our friends from Saks, Bloomingdale’s, our retail partners and the media for making this big! This was a historical life/brand changing moment and I’m so happy could share it with everyone!!
There’s a tremendous amount of press out there but that’s for another post. Need some rest!
As many of you are now aware, we’ve entered into a collaboration with Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas. With the successful launch of the collaboration in the US, we’ve decided to take it global. To celebrate, this Thursday, 11/12, we will have an official launch event at our store from 6-9 PM where we invite you to have a first look at the collaborative line. Those who purchase a pair will receive a free gift from JUMP and Taboo, an autograph and photo with Taboo as well as entrance to the exclusive VIP after party at the new club, Juliet, with the rest of the Black Eyed Peas.
The Model Lounge is a place for models to hang out in between castings and shoots. It’s at Delicatessen on Lafayette, not too far from our store. We introduced them to the women’s Vanquish and they love it. Look how cute.
Friedman’s is a store in Atlanta that has been around forever. They cater to men and women with large feet. If you need sizes 14 & up you can check out Friedman’s.
Here’s JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche from the Wizards with one large Vanquish Violet Patent Croco.
The Black Eyed Peas was in town last week to induct U2 into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Kind of a big deal when they’re rubbing shoulders with Mick Jagger and the like. He had a chance to pop into the SoHo store with Apl.
Later on we stopped into Saks to check out the shoes.
Shawn and Louis, Buyer and DMM at Saks met us on the floor.
It got kind of crazy. Kids were offering free dental work from their father’s practice in Brooklyn. Tourists from Italy were asking for autographs. One woman inadvertently asked for mine thinking I was famous. That was exciting.
They’ll be back next week to perform on SNL and at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion show and also for one mega event with us on November 12th. Keep you posted.
Last night my buddy Dusty invited me to stop by Opera Gallery (down the street from the store) where I had the pleasure of meeting Ron English along with Larry and Brandon from Greedy Genius. Ron’s work is among the most, if not THE most, relevant and fascinating of any artist out there. We got to talking and there might be some opportunities for us to collaborate. It would be absolutely amazing to align with one of our generation’s seminal artists. Check out his work.
Nicole Trunfio stopped by the Model Lounge to cop some Vanquish.
