WE are thrilled to announce the appointment of Pippa Mellor as the Head of VIC Services at WE ARE COCO.

With over 15 years of experience in the luxury fashion retail and e-commerce industry, Pippa brings her extensive expertise in private shopping and client relations to lead our new Global Private Shopping Services.

In this role, Pippa will spearhead the development of a global network of private stylists across the U.S. and the Middle East, acting as a direct point of contact for WE are COCO brands and private shoppers at prestigious our partner retailers such as Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Farfetch.

"I’m thrilled to be joining the board of mentors at We Are COCO and working alongside an inspiring team of industry leaders. With 15 years of experience in luxury sales and client development, I’m excited to help brands expand their DTC sales through innovative global luxury private shopping and client development strategies." - Pippa Mellor 

Her responsibilities will include providing comprehensive brand training, client services, product updates and exclusive launches, trunk shows and sales incentives.

Pippa’s career includes high-level leadership roles at NET-A-PORTER, MATCHES, Mulberry, and Liberty London. She has consistently demonstrated her ability to build and implement loyalty strategies that nurture existing clients and attract new high-value prospects. 

Hong Kong, August 2024 — WE are COCO is pleased to announce the launch of WE are COCO Asia, a strategic expansion into the Asian market, led by the newly appointed Managing Partner, Lu Ng. Based in Hong Kong, Lu brings nearly two decades of experience in the luxury and contemporary fashion industry, positioning WE are COCO for significant growth across Hong Kong, China, and the Far East.

This expansion begins with the addition of Sauvereign, a Hong Kong-based luxury brand that has recently captured global attention by dressing Cillian Murphy with a bespoke brooch at the Oscars, designed by Bertrand Mak. As WE are COCO Asia’s first client, Sauvereign exemplifies the caliber of contemporary, commercial, and niche luxury brands that the firm is set to represent.

In the recent retail shifts, WE are COCO is mobilising the acumen of former Matches talent for mentorship and education roles within the industry. Equipping brands, retail projects and executives with industry education derived from real-world lessons.

WE are COCO, is proud to welcome Alice Primmer, a seasoned former Matches buyer, to our Board of Retail Mentors. She is ready to steer international brands, developers, students and retail professionals through the complexities of today's market.​ Turning her time and talent to teaching the next generation of fashion leaders. 

"In these turbulent times, it's increasingly difficult for both retailers and brands to stay profitable. WE are COCO, leverages our expertise and global insights to bridge the gap between vendors and distributors, guiding everyone towards success in this new normal," said Alice

Alice's extensive background as a luxury womenswear buyer at Matches equips her with a profound understanding of the fashion industry's nuances, from product development to international market dynamics and e-commerce strategies. Her appointment underscores our commitment to leveraging deep industry knowledge to empower brands and retailers to navigate and thrive in today's fluctuating market conditions.

Schedule time with Alice

We are thrilled to announce that Noura Al Faqih, a seasoned buyer for Designer and Contemporary Women's Ready-to-Wear at Harvey Nichols Riyadh, has joined We Are COCO as our first consultant for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Noura brings with her a decade of rich experience in the fashion industry, having also contributed significantly at That Concept Store in Dubai.

Noura’s extensive background in buying for both men’s and women’s apparel, combined with her deep understanding of the Middle Eastern market, positions her uniquely to guide brands looking to establish or expand their presence in this vibrant region. Moreover, Noura has successfully founded and developed a linen clothing line in the UAE, catering to a diverse clientele, which further highlights her expertise in product development and market penetration.

In her own words, Noura states: “WE are COCO is a very organised platform which supports buyers to develop talent that could be successfully placed in department stores. I believe in adding value to brands and supporting their growth on a larger global scale."

Throughout her career, Noura has set up creative strategies to maximize space in departments for brands, set up sales per square meter or per brand, and worked closely with the Majid al Futtaim group to launch the concept store, among many other achievements. 

WE feel Noura is the ideal mentor and commercial strategist to help your brand grow, scale and develop an in-depth understanding of the Middle East market.

Schedule time with Noura

WE are COCO proudly welcomes Sabina Rahim to its Board of Retail Mentors. Sabina, a seasoned Luxury Buyer specialising in womenswear and childrenswear at London's iconic department store, Harrods. Her valuable insights span from effectively capturing the attention of renowned department stores to comprehending the nuanced preferences and dislikes of luxury shoppers.

Sabina expressed, "WE are COCO is creating a platform where buyers can share their industry-leading knowledge and provide guidance on forging perfect vendor partnerships. With the retail landscape becoming increasingly challenging, this knowledge and guidance can be the key to success."

Sabina's impressive portfolio encompasses working with contemporary, luxury and super brands, allowing her to harmoniously blend data-driven strategies with an intuitive understanding of fashion trends. Her adeptness in navigating complex processes and vendor requirements equips her to tackle common challenges, smoothing the path for brands in their journey.

More about Sabina