Kovalum Review
04-04-2011
This retro casual wear offers a variety of simple but stylish men’s garments in natural fabrics and with handmade detailing. Using Kovalum clothing for the first fcMenswear shoot I got to experience firsthand the versatility of his simple but quality classics.
Mark is a corporate lawyer turned fashion designer from Canada. “Giving something back to the world has always been a part of me.” To read an interview on what inspires Mark and his label Kovalum please follow the link below.
Mark Johnson / Kovalum Interview
We stock Kovalum, Toddy Shop Vintage style t-shirts in our W1 boutique. Made from 67% bamboo rayon, 27% organic cotton, 6% spandex the natural feel to these t-shirts is exceptional. Slim fitting and come in a variety of colours and prints in sizes M, L, XL.
(Toddy is the natural alcoholic drink made from the sap of a coconut tree and sold in toddy shops in India)
Kovalum is named after the legendary beach at the south west tip of India in the state of Kerala. The literal English spelling is Kovalam but it is pronounced Kovalum so to avoid mispronunciation Mark decided to go with the spelling that is the same as the sound.
We used a Kovalum pull over hoody for the second look of our fcMenswear shoot. Being a menswear shoot thought it would be a good idea to dress a girl in boys clothing. We mixed a Kovalum hooded pull over jacket with a pair of House of Hannigan women’s tomboy jeans to create this look. For women, one of these tops would be great worn over a bathing suit.
These hooded pull over’s retail at $125 in yellow or blue (varied checks) and come in sizes S, M, L, XL
Business or casual, Every man needs one in his wardrobe. A classic piece, this slim fitting shirt features a semi-spread collar and can be worn with a suit or with jeans during your off-duty hours. These shirts are specially made for Kovalum by a tailor in Hong Kong.
fcMenswear used a Kovalum shirt for looks 4 and 5 of the fcMenswear shoot.
100% cotton in lightweight, fine fabric with Kovalum hem patch. And come in sizes M & L
Kovalum also offer classic belts. These come in either brown or black leather, have a Customizable length, Rounded, polished metal buckle and cost $40 each.
A portion of all proceeds from each purchase will be forwarded to support the Saint James Orphanage for girls in Alappuzha (formerly Alleppey), Kerala, India. This orphanage provides an upbringing to approximately thirty girls. It has been operating for over sixty years and is operated by the Carmelite nuns of Alappuzha.
By James Gulliver
Contact – menswear@fashioncapital.co.uk