Kay Cohen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kay Cohen
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Cohen in Paris 2011
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| Born | 31 December 1952 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | Massey University Heriot-Watt University |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Known for | Lingerie Design |
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Kay Cohen (born Kathleen Siddall on 31 December 1952) is an Australian fashion designer and business leader. She was born in Levin, New Zealand, and now lives in Sydney, Australia. Kay Cohen is famous for designing lingerie (underwear). She started and led popular brands like Pleasure State and Elle Macpherson Intimates. She also invented a special bra called the Biofit uplift bra.
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Early Life and Design Beginnings
Kay Cohen grew up on a farm. She found her love for fashion when she was 12 years old. She studied clothing and textile design at Wellington Polytechnic (which is now Massey University). After finishing her studies, she taught at the same school. One of her students was another famous Australian designer, Collette Dinnigan.
For the first 15 years of her career, Kay designed regular clothes. Later, she earned a special business degree (an MBA) from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.
Starting in Lingerie Design
In 1992, Kay Cohen started designing lingerie. She joined a company called Triumph International in Brisbane, Australia. There, she was in charge of creative designs for brands like Triumph and Sloggi. She also helped bring the brand Valisere to Australia.
In 1997, Kay moved back to New Zealand. She became a top manager for Bendon, a New Zealand lingerie company. At Bendon, she was known for her creative ideas. She helped make supermodel Elle Macpherson's lingerie brand, Elle Macpherson Intimates, very popular. She also led designs for other brands like Bendon Man and Expozay swim.
Success with Elle Macpherson Intimates
When Kay Cohen was the creative director for Elle Macpherson Intimates, it became the best-selling fashion underwear brand in department stores in Australia and the UK. In 1997, she launched Macpherson Men, a men's underwear brand. It quickly became very successful in Australia and New Zealand.
Because these brands were so popular, Bendon started selling Elle Macpherson underwear in the United Kingdom. In 2001, the brand was sold in famous London stores like Selfridges and House of Fraser.
In 2002, Kay relaunched the swimwear brand Expozay. She worked with Australian actress and model Sophie Monk to promote it. Jennifer Hawkins, who later became Miss Universe, also modeled for Expozay at a launch event in New Zealand.
After Bendon was bought by another company, Kay Cohen was asked to lead the Berlei Group in Australia in 2003. This group included brands like Berlei, Formfit, and Wonderbra. However, Kay soon realized she wanted to create completely new designs, not just update old ones. She saw a chance to combine fashion, good fit, and usefulness in lingerie. By 2004, news spread that she would launch her own luxury lingerie brand called Pleasure State.
Launching Pleasure State
Kay Cohen launched Pleasure State at Mercedes Australian Fashion Week in Sydney in 2004. Fashion experts voted it one of the top 10 shows! Before the launch, major stores like David Jones in Australia and Harrods, Selfridges, and House of Fraser in the UK decided to sell her brand.
First Collection Designs
The first Pleasure State collection used beautiful French lace and silks. It also brought back woven fabrics, which were different from the usual stretchy knits. The clothes had Swarovski crystals, a trend that Pleasure State helped start in lingerie. The bras had wider straps and smooth designs, which became a signature look for the brand. The fabrics were blends of silk with modern materials like tactel and lycra, making them comfortable for everyday wear. Most of these fabrics came from France and Italy.
Growing Around the World
By March 2005, Kay's brand was sold in over 300 stores worldwide. This included famous stores like Galeries Lafayette in Paris and Victoria's Secret in the United States. By April, Pleasure State was in 45 Victoria's Secret stores. It was one of only three international designer lingerie brands sold alongside Victoria's Secret products.
In November 2005, Kay's brand was available in 90 stores across Russia. It quickly became their best-selling brand. Within two years of launching, Pleasure State was sold in 25 countries. Kay also launched a more affordable line called Pleasure State White Label, and renamed the high-fashion line Pleasure State Couture. Today, Pleasure State is available in 35 countries and over 1000 stores globally.
Around this time, the brand also moved its Australian sales to Myer department stores, setting up special shops inside them. Famous people like Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson, Rihanna, and Anna Nicole Smith wore Kay's designs, making them even more popular. By mid-2007, Kay's brand was earning over $30 million each year. That's when she announced her new invention: the Biofit bra.
The Biofit Uplift Bra
Kay Cohen's Biofit uplift bra had the biggest launch ever for a bra from Limited Brands (the company that owns Victoria's Secret). Kay's smart idea was to create a push-up bra that was different for each cup size. This meant it gave just the right amount of lift for each woman's bust size.
Kay worked with Sophie Monk again for the Australian launch of Biofit. Sophie appeared in a music video where she sang "Push It." Because of an agreement with Victoria's Secret, the Biofit bra was later renamed Myfit in Australia.
In May 2010, Kay Cohen merged Pleasure State with her old company, Bendon. She then left the company.
Silent Assembly
In July 2013, Kay Cohen launched a brand new luxury lingerie label called Silent Assembly in Paris. This brand features her latest invention, Curvessence. This new technology is designed to replace traditional underwires in bras, making them even more comfortable.
