 Coogi Clothing was founded in 1969 by Jacky Taranto of Melbourne, Australia. The original name of the brand was ‘Cuggi’ but Taranto changed it to Coogi in 1987 to give it a more indigenous flavour. Coogi brand was created as a way to produce the artistic ideas he had for fashion, after leaving the Toorak Menswear store in Australia. With a precise aim, Taranto targeted the American tourists visiting Australia with his designs. He felt tourists would love the bright colored luxury woven sweaters and he was right. In its earlier stages, international celebrities from singer John Denver to Muhammad Ali sported the label. During the 1990’s New York rapper Christopher “Notorious BIG” Wallace, especially brought the brand to the forefront in the 1990s. Biggie rapped the line “I Stay Coogi Down To The Socks” in his platinum single One More Chance, sending Urban America into a buying frenzy Very successful, Coogi’s production and distribution company employed over 450 people world wide at times. The fashion brands reason for needing so many people was to keep it’s high quality during times of international growth of popularity and sales. The intricate patterns and weaving techniques made Coogi sweaters one of the most prized pieces to men of wealth. Doctors, lawyers, celebrities, executives, and other career driven men wore the brand regularly. Coogi Australia Garments Company’s original philosophy was to blend the perfect harmony of integrity, creativity,passion, and a constant pursuit of excellence. The philosophy was to flow through the entire organization from design to knitting to garment construction, warehousing, distribution, administration, selling and retailing. Only the finest quality fibres including pure mew merino wool, mercerised cotton, luxurious cashmere, silk and linen are crafted into Coogi sweaters and woven fashions. Intricate knot structures in exhilarating colours are used to create living art pieces perfectly. Coogi won a lucrative contract, with other Australian labels, to design and stock products in souvenir stores at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. That year Coogi was spliced into several companies under the umbrella of the Coogi Group. In 2001, the Australian founder Jacky Taranto ran into major financial problems forcing him to sell his ownership rights. The Coogi brand was purchased by US investors for approximately $25 million. Reports state Coogi brand was generating $45 Million revenue annually at the time of sale. However, Taranto had no choice in the matter as he claimed to be penniless and burdened with $25 million debt. At time of sale, Coogi brand was finding new success in the urban market. Major Hip-Hop entertainers once again found the brand to be the perfect fashion statement about their financial status. The current owners of Coogi are unpublicized but well-known by the world wide fashion industry. Since purchasing the Australian brand they have strengthened Coogi’s Urban American relevance and international business. In coming years, Coogi garments expects to build a stronger luxury retail prescence. According to credible sources, the Australia luxury brand will be opening flagship stores internationally for clients to shop direct. An exception in the fashion world as a whole, the Smithsonian Institute recognises Coogi’s excellence in fabric design and manufacture. The prestigious Cooper Hewitt Textile Museum, part of the Smithsonian Institute has inducted Coogi Australia into its permanent collection. The museum’s curator of Textiles, Mr Milton Seonday said, “Coogi represents to me and the Cooper Hewitt one of the highest levels of technique and design. |