In the Biz: Ron Robinson
Tuesday’s entrepreneurship class is always a delight… engaging lectures, interactive learning and dynamic guest speakers! I had the pleasure of meeting Ron Robinson, the president of Apothia at Fred Segal and a ‘Sartorialist’ in my books. Ferragamo Manila Sneaker Patent Calf kicks + fragrance entrepreneur who knows no bounds = super dose of inspiration.
Apothia is the fusion of apothecary and utopia. Rob has been discovering brands for over 35 years. He specializes in fragrance and style objects for the home, as well as children and men’s fashion.
25 years ago, fragrance and skincare items were only sold at department stores, beauty supply shops and drugstores. Apothia changed all that by incorporating the ‘buy’ concept from the fashion retail world. The selective buys created a new boutique setting for unique and underground beauty brands to flourish.
The first fragrance created by Ron is IF. When he created this fragrance, he wanted to make sure it and it’s packaging would stand the test of time and trends and still remain relevant. It sure does. This is why he is a commercial artist.
It comes in both pure essence and also in a eau de parfum. Its heart notes consists of 4 white flowers with top notes of zesty grapefruit and sparkling yuzu. It is hip, fashionable and elegant. It’s simplistic, timeless and genderless. IF has unique packaging! It is a roll on and has a silicone coating that makes it bounce when dropped.
Another great story he shared with us was for the creation of the scent Velvet Rope. The package again is brilliant in its tactile experience and visual design.
The scent itself was inspired by a very dry vanilla martini with a twist of grapefruit. A vanilla bean is dropped in the drink and the oil from the bean creates the perfect vanilla aroma in the cocktail. This is that scent.
Underground fragrance triggers imagination and is boundless in its amplification. So come and be in limbo with us between the tangible (go to Fred Segal) and the intangible (the feelings these fine fragrances evoke) where we fall in love on the wet and we buy on the dry.
