Wandering through Dia:Beacon this past May, during its annual spring benefit, Karin Gustafsson paused before a painting by Mary Corse. “She expresses so much with so little,” noted Gustafsson, the creative director ofCOS. You could say the same of her.
Since taking the helm of the fashion label two years ago, after working behind the scenes for nearly a decade, Gustafsson has made a roar with a whisper—masterminding both the spare, sophisticated collections for which COS is known and the multisensory installations that have established it as an incubator for cutting-edge talents. “We’ve always been rooted in minimalism,” said the designer, who has found inspiration in everything from Agnes Martin paintings to Anne Truitt sculptures. “Our stamp is timeless design that focuses on functionality—how to offer new materials and new experiences.” Created in collaborations with rising-star designers and artists, the latter include Studio Swine’s bubble-yielding tree sculpture (traveling to Shanghai this October) and Phillip K. Smith III’s wall of mirrors, mounted in Milan last April. “You have to see it in person,” said Gustafsson. “Only then do you feel the full wow.”cosstores.com
