media kit - Johnathan Kayne

MEDIA KIT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Fact Sheet
Company Bio
Personal Bio
Milestones
Testimonials
All the Buzz
INTRODUCTION
There is a pivotal point where a designer and their brand evolve into an organization that is
much bigger than one person, but still represents the artist’s original vision. Johnathan Kayne
and his team are doing just that and leaving an impression on the fashion world. From red carpet
celebrities to our company uniform customers, our clients trust us to make them look
and feel beautiful.
Our mission at Johnathan Kayne is to create an exciting, fashion forward brand that attracts
customers seeking innovation and quality. We accomplish this through our passion for designing
the most creative products possible and delivering them in a fun atmosphere. We believe
everything we make, and everything we do, must be the best it possibly can be.
In this press kit, you will learn more about Kayne personally, and the ever-evolving Johnathan
Kayne brand. We welcome all inquiries.
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INTRODUCTION
FACT SHEET
Founded: 2007
Leadership Team:
Johnathan Gillaspie, President / Creative Director
Brian Royce, Vice President / General Manager
Number of Team Members: 9
Headquarters: Nashville, TN
Showroom: Atlanta, GA
Ownership: Private
Media contact:
Brian Royce [email protected]
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FACT SHEET
COMPANY BIO
The inception of the Johnathan Kayne brand started just a few days after Kayne appeared on Project Runway
Season 3 in 2006. Kayne had been making custom garments since 1998, but he left the show inspired to create
his first collection that would be mass produced and offered to retail stores. Kayne chose his first and middle
names for the “Johnathan Kayne” namesake and designed and created 17 original gowns that made up his
inaugural 2007 Spring / Summer collection.
Upon attending the Atlanta Apparel market in August of 2006, the Johnathan Kayne brand launched into
over 30 retailers across the United States. The energy and excitement around the launch of this new designer
collection cast a bright spotlight on Johnathan Kayne. Several established dress and shoe companies
approached Kayne about designing collections for them.
By fall of 2006, Kayne inked a deal with Benjamin Walk Corporation located in Somersworth, New Hampshire to
design a line of designer eveningwear shoes that would be under the label Johnathan Kayne. The line launched
in August of 2007 and has grown into over 2500 specialty stores and boutiques. Benjamin Walk Corp. was
founded in 1896 and is an international shoe company that houses the Touch Ups, Liz Rene, Dyeables, and
Johnathan Kayne shoe collections. These brands can be found in over 5000 stores in over 40 countries.
Also in the fall of 2006, Kayne was hired as head designer for WOW Prom, an international dress company
located in Atlanta, Georgia. This afforded him the opportunity to design a stylish, yet affordable prom collection
under the label WOW Prom as well as launch the Johnathan Kayne for Wow collection, a designer line of
eveningwear. Both of these lines launched under Kayne’s creative vision in August of 2007. The WOW Prom
Collection serviced over 500 retailers and the Johnathan Kayne for Wow serviced 65 retailers. In 2008, the
Johnathan Kayne for WOW name was changed to Johnathan Kayne.
In 2010, Kayne hired Brian Royce as the General Manager and they chose not to continue their agreement with
WOW Prom. This moved all business operations for the Johnathan Kayne line from Atlanta, Georgia to Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma. This afforded them the opportunity to re-brand the Johnathan Kayne company and have more
influence on its growth. The permanent Johnathan Kayne showroom opened in 2011 at the AmericasMart in
Atlanta, Georgia.
2012 was a big year for Johnathan Kayne. Kayne was invited back for Project Runway All Stars Season 2 on
Lifetime television. He placed 9th and was asked back by Anthony Ryan Auld to help him with his final collection.
Kayne’s impressive construction skills and speed as well as Anthony’s beautiful design aesthetic led them to the
victory. Kayne also met and became great friends with Joshua McKinley while competing on All Stars. Joshua
was hired shortly thereafter to design an evening wear collection under the label Johnathan Kayne by Joshua
McKinley using his elegant and edgy aesthetic.
Also in 2012, Brian and Kayne moved the company to Nashville, Tennessee as part of branding Johnathan
Kayne as “Your Go-to Red Carpet Designer of the South”. Nashville offered enormous opportunity for dressing
celebrities as well as faster shipping times to retailers, and close proximity to their permanent Atlanta showroom.
The first outside sales rep was hired for the Northeast region of the U.S. to increase brand awareness and sales.
In 2013, additional outside sales reps were hired in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the U.S. and Kayne was
hired as the Fashion Correspondent for Country Weekly magazine and ZUUS media appearing on the red carpet
of the 2013 American Country Awards.
In March of 2014, Kayne and Joshua visited their production factories in China and worked hands on with
them on every aspect of the design process. The Johnathan Kayne brand made a splash on many red carpets
including the Billboard Music Awards, ACM’s, and CMT Awards. Lee and Sara Brice appeared on many Best
Dressed lists both wearing custom Johnathan Kayne to the Academy of Country Music Awards and Lee went
on to win Song of the Year later that evening. Kayne also designed and made custom costumes for Martina
McBride’s Everlasting Tour in April of 2014. The Johnathan Kayne dress collections can now be found in over 500
retailers in over 15 countries. The brand is continuously growing and has goals of launching new products in the
near future.
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COMPANY BIO
PERSONAL BIO
Johnathan “Kayne” Gillaspie was born March 14, 1979 in
Nashville, TN. Growing up in the Music City he became
enamored with fashion by watching his favorite country
music stars like Dolly and Reba on the red carpet. He took
a job as a sketch artist at a local evening wear boutique
in Nashville and his sparkling fashion career began. Kayne
was accepted to The Fashion Institute of Technology
in New York City and graduated in 2002. Following
graduation he opened Kayne’s Clothing Boutique, which
afforded him the opportunity to create custom ballroom
dance costumes, evening wear, and wardrobes for the
country music industry. In 2003, Kayne moved his custom
design business to Norman, Oklahoma and became a
partner in an established formal wear boutique.
In 2006, Kayne was chosen as one of fifteen designers to
compete on Project Runway Season 3 in which he placed
in the Top 5. In 2007, Kayne launched the Johnathan Kayne
dress line, as well as the award winning Johnathan Kayne
shoe line produced by Benjamin Walk Corporation in
Somersworth, New Hampshire. In 2009, Kayne starred
in the TLC special “Gown Crazy” and has been seen
on E!, ABC, NBC, Bravo, and The Style Network
to name a few. In 2012, he moved his home and
entire business operation back to his hometown
of Nashville, TN. Most recently, Kayne was
seen in the hit TV show Project Runway All
Stars Season 2 on Lifetime television. He
has also hosted a variety of national
pageants and events, and also served
as the red carpet fashion correspondent
of the ACA’s in Las Vegas for Country
Weekly and ZUUS Country. His
celebrity clients include Jennifer Lopez,
Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Brooke
Hogan, Mattie & Tae, Brooks & Dunn,
Lee Brice, and The Rascal Flatts.
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MILESTONES
2002 Kayne Graduated Magna Cum Laude from The Fashion Institute of Technology
and won the acclaimed Critic’s Choice Award for Evening Wear
2004- 2006 Designed the National Christmas Tour costumes for Point of Grace
2006 On Project Runway Season 3 Kayne won the “Fit for a Queen” challenge where
Tara Connor Miss USA 2007 chose his design to wear as her evening gown at the 2007
Miss Universe Pageant
2006 Hired by WOW Prom to design under the label Johnathan Kayne
2006 Partnered with Benjamin Walk Corporation to launch the Johnathan Kayne shoe
collection
2008 Won the International Prom Association Retailer’s Choice Award for Best Shoe &
Accessory Designer
2009 “Gown Crazy” aired on Lifetime showcasing Kayne’s custom design business
2010 Hired Brian Royce as General Manager and took over the manufacturing and
distribution of the Johnathan Kayne dress line.
2011 Designed the NBA uniforms for the Oklahoma City Thunder Girls
2012 Moved the Johnathan Kayne headquarters from Oklahoma City, OK to
Nashville, TN
2013 Launched the “Johnathan Kayne by Joshua McKinley” collection
2013 Launched the “Retail Only” collection
2013 Expanded the custom design division to include company uniforms
2013 Kayne appeared as Fashion Correspondent for Country Weekly Magazine and Zuus
Media at the American Country Awards in Las Vegas
2013 Partnered with Jennifer Lopez and Verizon Wireless on an national
marketing campaign
2014 Kayne establishes himself as “The go-to red carpet designer of the South” with
celebrity clients including Lee Brice, Maggie Rose, and Martina McBride
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MILESTONES
TESTIMONIALS
“Feeling glam when you’re 6 months pregnant isn’t easy but Johnathan
Kayne made me feel that and more! I needed a dress for the CMT awards.
I had THE BEST experience with him finding a dress that fit me for that
occasion. After the whole process, I would use Johnathan again a million
times! Not only was he was prompt in getting me scheduled
and getting my dress finished but he was so easy and fun to work with
and he made sure I felt comfortable and completely happy with
how I looked for such an important event.”
Kourtney Hansen - “Emily” on ABC’s NASHVILLE
“We couldn’t be happier about this experience… Not only were the pieces
Kayne designed for us absolutely perfect, but he is so super down to Earth.
He had a way of making it all really fun.”
Lee and Sara Brice - Country Music Star
“Johnathan Kayne designed and made a new look for the Thunder Girls
in their third season. His uniform is still one of the most professional and
glamorous looks that I have seen on any NBA dance team.
The girls still comment on how well the uniform fits and how it
will always be one of their favorites.”
Paige Carter - Dance Team Manager, Oklahoma City Thunder
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TESTIMONIALS
ALL THE BUZZ
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT JOHNATHAN KAYNE
“A fashion forward designer who you loved on Project Runway; Johnathan Kayne dresses
reflect his innovative styling and passion for highlighting a girl’s best features.”
– Promgirl.com
“Cute, classy, and sexy. These shoes are a must and will compliment an array of after five
and formal dresses.”
– Customer review, Amazon.com
“These dresses feature many different styles, colors, and details—a dress for e
very woman!”
– Macktakmart.com
“Johnathan Kayne dresses are made with great attention to detail and quality of
construction, making the designer dresses last a long time and are versatile and timeless
enough to be worn over and over again.”
– Missesdressy.com
“His designs encompass originality, attention to detail and a young femininity with an
edge.”
– Shoebuy.com
“Johnathan Kayne prom and pageant dresses are a brilliant collection of today’s fashion.
Vibrant color choices, rich fabrics, and youthful styling set these gowns apart from the
competition.”
–Onlineformals.com
“These shoes are absolutely amazing. My feet are so comfy in them. I can dance in them
with no problem. I have never received so many compliments on a shoe purchase. I love
them!”
– Customer Review, Shoes.com
“No matter where your tastes lie, finding something that will absolutely thrill you is easy
when you select a Johnathan Kayne gown.”
– Newyorkdress.com
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ALL THE BUZZ
Johnathan Kayne
Headquarters
229 Blanton Ave
Nashville, TN 37210
TF: 877-497-6006
P: 615-401-9254
F: 615-401-9258
www.johnathankayne.com