WWD - Intercos - Make Up First Family
WWD - Intercos - Make Up First Family
WWD - Intercos - Make Up First Family
n elegant town house situated in the fashion ideas. “We look to Intercos to create and innovate first-to- product development and their decadeslong love of art
quadrangle of Milan stands as a testament to how market products,” she says. collecting. Referring to the family’s house—which also
art and science can intertwine. The yin and yang of art and science can be seen every contains works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Yayoi Kusama,
Inside the four-story hospitable house hang year when Intercos unveils its annual trend forecast at Piero Manzoni and Alexander Calder—she says: “They
works by artists ranging from Andy Warhol to the company headquarters in Agrate Brianza, outside of are incredibly stylish. That sense of style plays into the
Lucio Fontana, and the edifice also is the home of Madina Milan. The exhibit reflects the findings of a six-month product.” Kashuk marvels over the “amazing balance” of the
and Dario Ferrari, who, with daughter Arabella Ferrari search through the worlds of art, fashion and culture—high house—“so fantastical and so comfortable.”
and other family members, form the core management and low—by a squad of art experts led by Madina. These Dario, Intercos’ president and chairman, has been
of Intercos, perennially the top-ranked supplier of color cultural trends are married to the most cutting-edge gradually turning operational duties over to his daughter,
cosmetics to the global makeup industry, despite challenges molecular innovation that the research and development Arabella, for the last 15 years. But there is one operational
by competitors such as Chromavis. department can muster. The offspring of these two aspect he has kept firmly in hand—calling the signals on
“They are the leaders,” says Chantal Roos, who started forces are new product technologies and new production innovation, which he describes as the engine of Intercos.
working with Intercos 25 years ago and continued during techniques that the company presents as its hallmark. “The At age 67, Dario remains an imposing presence—at
her tenure as the head of YSL Beauté. “They are constantly theater of makeup,” is how Kashuk describes it. “There is so least one client describes him as “a rock star.” But with all
looking for new ideas and creativity—not only in product much—so much to experience, so much product to take in,” the success of Intercos, he retains the attitude of one who’s
and color, but also in technology.” she says. “It’s overwhelming.” still pushing to make it.
She notes that the family success started with the Swiss “It’s mind blowing,” agrees Cohen. “Each room is “I like change,” he says. “I change probably too much,
skin care company of Dario’s highly accomplished mother, more creative and advanced than the next. It’s like being in but only by changing, you can create new things. If you look
Nadia Avalle, reached a crescendo with Dario and Madina Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” in the Italian dictionary, the definition of innovation [is] to
and continues to build with Arabella. Their 27-year-old-son, Kashuk draws a line between the Ferraris’ passion for modify a system by adding something new. That’s what we
Gianandrea, entered the business two years ago. “When try to do also in our organization.
some people reach a certain turnover, they ease up,” Roos “If you keep this philosophy by adding something new,
notes. “This [company] crosses the generations.”
“I have worked with many labs, but they are in a
“It’s mind blowing,” says Emily it drives you,” he continues. “You change probably without
really noticing. It’s very important to improve.”
different league,” says Sonia Kashuk, a leading makeup Cohen of Intercos’ annual trend He points out that it all started with Madina 30 years
artist and founder of her own brand. ago, when they went to the Cosmoprof trade fair in
Emily Cohen, who consulted on the development of presentation. “Each room is more Bologna with a tray full of makeup. “We used to sell one
Topshop’s recently launched makeup line, adds, “Intercos is formula and she was making 24 different colors. This was
the Rolls-Royce of cosmetics manufacturers.” creative and advanced than the our innovation 30 years ago,” he recalls.
Claudia Poccia, global president of the Mark division at
Avon Products Inc., says her company manufactures its own
next. It’s like being in Charlie and By the time Arabella joined the firm 17 years ago, the
product offering had evolved somewhat. “I had a box and
makeup, but still works with Intercos as a source of new the Chocolate Factory.” we had colors and formulas. We were going around the
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CREDITS TKTKTK
44 W W D B E AU T Y B I Z
AN ARTFUL LIFE: INSIDE THE
FERRARI’S MILAN TOWN HOUSE.
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