In 2000, Skins was new in the Netherlands, and no one was familiar with the so-called 'niche brands'. Which brands did the first boutique in Runstraat open with, and how did you find them?
When we opened our first boutique in Runstraat, it was our idea to bring unique and undiscovered 'niche brands' to the Netherlands. In 2000, the internet was still in its infancy, and brands sometimes had no website, so we travelled to cities like London, Paris, and New York to find them. We visited small, independent shops and prestigious department stores, such as Colette in Paris, which already showcased forward-thinking brands. But we were also inspired by reading trendy international magazines and discovering new brands we could bring to the Netherlands.
Another aspect of our search was inspired by stories such as that of Kiehl's, a brand with its own legendary boutique in New York. We also found hidden gems in sometimes obscure locations, like a secret store where you had to ring to get in.
The brands we ultimately opened our doors with included Philosophy, Laura Mercier,
and the timeless Rosebud Perfume Company.
Each, in its own way, secured a special place in the hearts of our customers. Even then, the combination of research and personal discovery tours ensured a unique offering for Skins.
Philip, which brand felt like your most significant 'victory' when it was added to the collection?
Personally, my greatest pride is that we were able to add Creed to our collection. It had been on my wishlist for a while, but it took two years of determination and effort, where we had to literally and figuratively open every door. The highlight was the extraordinary meeting with the Creed family in our then-small office beneath the boutique. With many hand gestures and a mixture of broken French and English, we finally sealed the deal.
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important, as we see with the rise of clean beauty. How does sustainability play a role in selecting new brands?
Sustainability is a must when selecting new brands. Many brands are moving to more environmentally friendly packaging, from large to compact and often refillable. There is also an increasing use of sustainable inks. We see that skincare and makeup brands usually lead in transparency and sustainability, and now perfume is following that trend. hima jomo, for example, uses bio-alcohol in its perfumes. We will likely see more brands focusing even more on clean beauty and a comprehensive sustainable vision.
Can you give us a sneak peek of the newness we can soon expect at Skins?
We are incredibly excited about BORNTOSTANDOUT, a South Korean perfume house that is already a hit in Asia and which we fully support. The creativity in their perfume names is genuinely unique and captures the imagination. Founder Jun Lin pushes the boundaries with his artistic approach and creates fragrances that stay with you. It would be best if you simply experienced them, so keep an eye on skins.nl and our social media...
