Staff at the Heinemann Duty Free shop in Sydney are wearing designer clothing since it opened in February. At the Heinemann Duty Free shops in Norway as well as at the Tax Free by Heinemann Shop at Copenhagen Airport the new uniforms are also successfully on show. Livia Ximénez-Carrillo and Christine Pluess, the designers and founders of Berlin-based label “mongrels in common”, collaborated closely with the staff of Heinemann Duty Free shops to create a collection of timeless elegance. Gunnar Heinemann, owner of Gebr. Heinemann, revealed the thinking behind the two-year development process: “For our employees, the new uniforms specially designed for Gebr. Heinemann will help convey the esteem in which they are held. We have no doubt customers will notice that too – the superior image the staff project is a further indication of our commitment to service and the customer.”
Comfortable, quality “corporate excellence fashion” impresses staff and shoppers
When planning the new outfits, Gebr. Heinemann looked for a design specialist capable of producing an international collection with the emphasis on wearability. The company opted for “mongrels in common” because of its multicultural leanings and reputation for high quality, wearable clothing for individuals. The new “corporate excellence fashion” from the design duo is very comfortable to wear and delivers tangible substance and quality; it incorporates individual combinations and eye-catchingly refined details without sacrificing the uniform image. The corporate identity of Gebr. Heinemann has been embodied within an attractive new colour scheme. “We wanted this collection to place a stronger emphasis on the positive impression conveyed by the staff of Heinemann Duty Free shops. The pieces we designed, which are modern yet timelessly elegant, include wrap-look dresses and chinos with the feelgood factor,” claim the designers Livia Ximénez-Carrillo and Christine Pluess. “When you create a corporate collection, the challenge is to incorporate established brand values and colour specifications into an innovative design while at the same time ensuring all the requirements of the day-to-day job are met. What’s more, every article has to look good in every size, taking account of all physiques and body types,” they continue.
Before the uniforms were introduced, Gebr. Heinemann employees were closely involved in the design process. After the first in-store trials, the garments were adjusted for functionality and comfort to ensure complete conformity with the needs of staff; only then could batch production commence. “We paid close attention to feedback from our employees, examining the smallest details to produce the best possible outcome,” recalls Sylvia Poppe, Project Manager (Retail Operations) at Gebr. Heinemann and the person overseeing this project. The result has been popular with employees, and customers too: during the trials, they tended to approach staff members wearing the new uniforms.
Press contact
mongrels in common
PRESS FACTORY - Luiza Philipp
Karl-Marx-Allee 81
10243 Berlin
Fon +49 30 28879002
luiza.philipp@press-factory.de
Gebr. Heinemann
Svenja Strombeck, Corporate Communications
Tel.: +49 40 3010 2186
About “mongrels in common”
Livia Ximènez-Carillo and Christiane Pluess are “mongrels in common”. The success of the two Berlin-based designers started with the “Moët & Chandon Fashion Award 2006”. The Duo is known for its exclusive fashion in the premium-segement and for a style which combines masculine and feminine elements as well as creative avant-garde design in a classic casual look.
