John Malkovich brings pop-up fashions to Paris

PARIS, Oct 25, 2011 (AFP) - Clothes fit for a star, designed by a star: Hollywood's John Malkovich is opening a pop-up fashion store in Paris in the run-up to Christmas to showcase his new menswear line, his firm said Tuesday.

John Malkovich - Photo: Corbis

Actor-director Malkovich will host a VIP party in Paris for the commercial launch of the Italian-made collection dubbed "Technobohemian by John Malkovich" before it goes on sale to the public from December 5 to 24.

First created three years ago, Malkovich's clothes were until now on limited display in a dozen stores around the world, but his spring-summer look is being rolled out to the general public for the first time this Christmas season.

Billed as "dandy and bohemian" in style, the line -- which was previewed in a similar pop-up store in Milan last month -- is aimed at "modern men who care about how they look, and who are firmly rooted in the 21st century."

Entitled Opificio JM, the temporary concept store will showcase suits, shirts, ties and accessories alongside a selection of luxury goods from Tuscany, from jewels to artworks and scents, hand-picked by Malkovich, whose wife is Italian.

Christmas shoppers will be able to treat themselves to a Malkovich-labelled suit for around 600 euros (830 dollars), or a shirt for 150 euros, said Liliana Pavesi Serri, head of international retail for the brand.

Malkovich, who studied costume design for the theatre in his youth, created the "Technobohemian" line in partnership with an Italian friend and designer, Ricardo Rami.

"John has always had a passion for fashion and design," said Pavesi Serri. "His inspiration is the film world, theatre and the street -- he is someone who is happy to take the metro when he is in Paris."

The US actor sketches the designs and selects fabrics for the clothes, which are produced by Rami in the Italian textile industry hub of Prato, where the Opificio JM brand has its headquarters.