Joe Mimran

Current City: Toronto

Why WOMAN.ca Loves Joe

We love the naked ambition. We love how Joe Mimran, in a career spanning two decades, consistently puts Canada on the map. He's an ambassador for smart dressers everywhere. In Joe's world, good taste is simple. What a refreshing idea.

From recognizing and cultivating Alfred Sung into a Canadian mainstay in the '80s, to founding Club Monaco (and Caban) and growing Club Monaco to 141 stores by 1997, Mimran has made Canadian fashion mythology history. In 2000, he exited his Club Monaco and Caban empire in a brilliant US$52-million deal with Ralph Lauren Polo Corp. Still, not one to rest on his laurels, Mimran went on to define "fast fashion" for Canada with Joe Fresh in a smart and savvy partnership with Loblaws.

The Joe Fresh brand message hit the sweet spot with the time-crunched Canadian market. It struck the perfect note for smart shoppers, addressing the need to get fashion basics right next to household basics. Suddenly, the supermarket became a fashion destination. Now, he's tackling beauty, and WOMAN.ca can't wait. This spring, he's launching a full line of cosmetics for lips, face and eyes. The cosmetics will start at $4 and cap at $8. Talk about well-priced and, might we say, cleverly timed! A bronzer or a lip gloss will cost $8; a lipstick or mascara, $6; cheek tint or eyeliner, $4.

Shoppers can expect eight eye products, with 61 shades in total; eight lip products, with 69 shades; seven face products, with 47 shades; 13 makeup brushes and 13 cosmetic accessories, including eyebrow grooming and pedicure kits.

W: What's on your horizon?
JM: To reach sales of a Billion $ with Joe Fresh before taking on anything new!

W: Top Three Women in Your Life.
JM: My wife, my daughters and my mom.

W: What is the Quality you Most Like in a Woman?
JM: Smart and chic.

W: Moment that Makes You Feel, "I Am Canadian"
JM: Proudly, each and every time I am in a foreign Country.

W: What is your Most Marked Characteristic?
JM: Constant pursuit of good style.

W: Most forward thinking Canadian Retailer.
JM: Loblaws.

W: Most promising emerging Canadian Fashion Label.
JM: Pink Tartan.

W: Most interesting Project Runway Canada Competitor, past or present.
JM: Evan Biddell.

W: You're mounting a Joe Fresh Runway Show for charity in 2010. Bright Young Hollywood is interested in stepping up for a good cause. Zac, Miley, Blake - you name it, their agents are game. Who's in your dream Joe Fresh show?
JM: Ryan Gosling, Blake Lively, Ed Westwick, Rachel McAdams, Whitney Port, Robert Pattinson.

W: Celebrity fashion brands: Lindsay Lohan, Lauren Conrad, Liz Hurley and Natalie Portman. Overrated? Is there one you think is more interesting as a unique collection - one that's more than a blatant cash grab?
JM: I think the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley, have done really well with their lines The Row and Elizabeth & James.

W: What is your most treasured possession?
JM: My art collection.

W: Who is your favorite fictional hero?
JM: James Bond.

W: Favorite Hotel in Canada
JM: Hotel Le Germain.

W: Most Romantic Building or Place in Canada
JM: Lake Joe at Sunset.

W: Most Definitive Career High
JM: Going public the 2nd time.

W: Favourite International City
JM: London / Paris / New York

W: Best Bar in Toronto
JM: Four Seasons Bar.

W: What's On Your iPod?
JM: Koop Island and Club Beluga

Si Si Penaloza
		About the author:
		Si Si has cultivated strong ties with editors, producers and publishers at all major Canadian media outlets. She is a seasoned print, radio and broadcast specialist. Graduating Magna Cum Laude from Bowdoin College in Maine, Si Si moved to Manhattan to study Film at New York University. Her strengths lie in contextualizing relevant content for a broad audience. She's driven to stay competitive and at the top of the market - commissioning exclusive features and launching bold initiatives.
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