Wknd Nation, started by stylist Sofia Karvela and fashion industry veteran Phuong Ireland, is a casual wear clothing line designed with comfort to make you feel good.

When the founders approached Independent Full-Service Creative Agency, Rook/NYC, to talk branding for their (at the time) soon-to-launch brand; they knew the branding would need to reflect the Founders’ shared effortlessly cool vibe, in staying aligned with their values, should be aspirational but still feel relatable and real. The Founders didn’t want to create a brand that felt too high-polished or pristine, so the team at Rook/NYC needed to cultivate an edge of imperfection.

Rook/NYC set out to build a layered identity that would allow the Wknd Nation team the flexibility and confidence to experiment and play with every element of the Brand ID. The team, led by Creative Partner and Designer, Mark Christou, wanted to design a system of elements, beyond just a logo and monogram, that could become as iconic as the heritage fashion brands we see today. The WN stitch mark, for example, is not just a stamp but a branded integration that works as beautifully on the clothing as it does within branded collateral.

When developing the color palette, Rook/NYC chose a vibrant, unexpected scheme, leading with a striking cobalt blue paired with a vivid disco green (as they call it) to offset and pop against the more neutral and feminine tones repeated throughout the line. Mirroring the playfully honest voices of the WN Founders, the brand messaging is friendly and relatable with a come as you are and let’s tell it like it is tone when engaging with the consumer — while the tagline homeworksocial is a central product messaging construct that celebrates the versatility of the collection, which can be styled to fit seamlessly into each aspect of one’s day.

“We were looking to create something unexpected for a fashion brand, not just do the traditional, minimalist thing…we wanted to rock the system. Rook delivered on a brand identity that’s completely differentiated from anything else on the market— bold, colorful and fun, but still aspirational and chic.” – Sofia Karvela, Co-Founder & Creative Director

In addition to the visual identity system and tone of voice, Rook/NYC created the DTC packaging experience and developed the overarching creative direction for Wknd Nation’s e-commerce site. The branding was dialed-up in a big way on the packaging, turning the DTC mailer into a billboard with big, bold logos and full-bleed vibrant color. Inside we designed a clean monogram repeat pattern on the tissue paper and sealed it with an oversized round sticker that reinforces the hero WN stamp.

“Our e-comm packaging is the first physical interaction our customer has with Wknd Nation, and Rook really brought the branding to life on this incredibly important touchpoint. They were thoughtful about every detail, creating a memorable series of surprise-and-delights for our customer. ROOK is a visionary thought partner, working with us to design an unmatched, special experience while meeting our sustainability goals.” – Phuong Ireland, Co-Founder & CEO

For online, it was important that they expressed the brand’s look, feel and tone without overshadowing the clothes and shopping experience. With simple page breaks, color blocking, beautiful imagery, and quirky details, the visual aesthetic is unique to Wknd Nation.

“Working with Phuong and Sofia was incredibly fun and insanely rewarding. These two women have incredible vision, and we were excited to see the brand come to life beyond the identity” – Rebecca Thomas Christou, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Rook/NYC

Rook/NYC is an independent, full-service creative agency based in New York City that specializes in branding, packaging design and creative production. They develop and deploy impactful, actionable creative solutions to build awareness, drive consumption and impact culture through collaborative partnership with their clients.