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In 2000, Skins was new in the Netherlands and nobody knew about the so-called 'niche brands'. Which brands opened the first boutique on Runstraat and how did you find them?
When we opened our first boutique in Runstraat, our idea was to bring unique and undiscovered 'niche brands' to the Netherlands. In 2000, the internet was still in its infancy and brands sometimes didn't have a website, so we travelled ourselves 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 were already showing forward-thinking brands at the time. But we were also inspired by reading international trendy magazines and found 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 discovered hidden gems in sometimes obscure locations here, such as a hidden shop where you had to ring the bell to get in.
The brands we eventually opened our doors with included Philosophy and Laura Mercier, as well as the timeless Rosebud Perfume Company, each of which, in its own way, won a special place in the hearts of our customers. Even then, the combination of research and personal exploration created a unique offering for Skins.
Philip, which brand felt like your biggest 'win' when it was added to the collection?
Personally, my biggest pride is that we were able to add Creed to our collection. It had been on my wish list for some time, but it took two years of determination and effort, during which we literally and figuratively had to open every door. The highlight was the special meeting with the Creed family in our, then small, office below the boutique. With many hand gestures and a mixture of poor French and English, we finally sealed the deal .
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important, which we are seeing with the rise of clean beauty. How does sustainability play a role in selecting new brands?
Sustainability is a must-have when selecting new brands. Many brands are switching to more eco-friendly packaging, from large to compact, and often refillable. Sustainable inks are also increasingly being used. We see skincare and make-up brands often leading the way in transparency and sustainability, and now perfume is following that trend. Like hima jomo, for example, which uses bio-alcohol in its perfumes. In the future, we are likely to see more brands focusing even more on clean beauty and a comprehensive sustainable vision.
Can you give a sneak peek of newness we can expect to see at Skins soon?
We are hugely excited about BORNTOSTANDOUT, a South Korean perfume house that is already a hit in Asia and which we are completely behind. The creativity in their perfume names is truly unique and captures the imagination. Founder Jun Lin pushes the boundaries with his artistic approach and makes fragrance creations that really stay with you. You simply have to experience them, so keep an eye on skins.co.uk and our social media....
