Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are certainly fashion forces. The design duo behind The Row recently won again for the CFDA for Womenswear Designer of the Year.
But before they were making waves with The Row, the Olsens were working as the creative directors at Superga through a partnership with Steve Madden. FN caught up with the duo in an exclusive interview in July 2012, at a party to celebrate the first U.S. store opening in Soho.
Then, they were overseeing both the core line and the higher-priced The Row for Superga collection.
“In our first meeting we ever had with Steve, I was wearing Supergas,” recalled Ashley Olsen. “It’s a brand that we’ve always loved and we appreciate the heritage. Getting the opportunity to work with something that’s so classic has been really fun.”
“We’re bringing the heart of the brand to the U.S. market,” added Mary-Kate Olsen. “It’s about the simplicity and luxury and treating it the way we treat all our brands.”
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At the time, The Man Repeller Leandra Medine had just walked down the aisle in Superga sneakers – an oversized platform style adorned with crystals. Jennifer Aniston is also a fan and Alexa Chung was featured in the U.K. ad campaigns.
“Superga has such a great look — it’s simple and cool. It can be what Keds was,” Madden said during the same interview.
Madden acquired the over 100-year-old Superga brand in 2011. The Olsen’s have since moved on from their role with Superga.
