MILAN, Jun 19, 2008 / FW/ — Except for the time when Elle Woods visited the hallowed halls of Harvard in the now classic movie ‘Legally Blonde,’ the Ivy League university is not known for being fashionable. And the same goes with Oxford University in England.
Both educational institutions are known for their intellectual and scientific treatises; but that their ‘stuffy’ image will change soon, as both of them are partnering with Henry Cotton’s to create a collection of clothing that enhances the history and tradition of both universities and be seen not only as a places to get an education but also temples of culture.
With the collection entitled, ‘Hello to you, my future,’ the collection which is aptly named Henry Cotton’s University re-told and re-interpreted the distinctive history, human values and above all, the peculiar sense of belonging to those who have walked their hallowed halls and enabled these two institutions to change the course of history, forming leaders in the world of politics, economics, culture, science and sports.
Unveiling the debut collection at Pitti Uomo, Henry Cotton’s University is a historic partnership not just in fashion but also between Harvard and Oxford, which by virtue of their locations, the first one in the U.S. and the latter in the United Kingdom had seldom met.
Yet, for the first time, these two famous institutions from whose classrooms Kings, Saints, Heads of States and Nobel laureates were trained, are also shedding their ‘stuff images’ as they open their doors to young people around the world, albeit through a fashion item.
Henry Cotton’s University is distinctly divided into two subsets, one dedicated to Harvard, the other to Oxford. The two institutions, while accepting to live within this project unique and prestigious, but wanted to maintain, as their tradition, their unique identity.
So the colors will be the flagship crimson for Harvard Polo and blue for Oxford Polo, with their respective university emblems. While the Oxford Polo will display the armorial bearings of the 39 colleges that make up the university, Harvard Polo on the other hand will highlight the badges of its 14 schools and 12 campuses.
The collection will be available during Spring / Summer 2009; but beginning the Autumn 2009 / Winter 2010, the Henry Cotton University collection will be available in all locations where Henry Cotton’s is sold.
The project is not just about commerce. We are, after all talking about two highly respected universities. Royalties earned from this licensing agreement will be put into a scholarship program that will allow deserving students’ entry to their hallowed halls.
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