The Cannes Film Festival celebrated its 75th-anniversary edition this year with many of today’s biggest celebrities gracing the historic event, from Hollywood stars to buzzy newcomers and previous Palme d’Or winners.
For Lisa and Jessica Kistermann, the creative sibling duo behind buzzy sneaker brand Crime London, the sisters turned up to Cannes in their signature show-stopping style to attend the premiere of Elvis – the highly-publicized and long-awaited film from Warner Bros starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks with direction by Australian filmmaker Baz Lurhmann. Rocking the red carpet like they’ve become internationally known for, the sisters shined particularly bright on the steps of Cannes in their matching colorful Maison Valentino menswear tuxedos.
The sisters’ appearance at Cannes did seem to confirm one hush-hush sneaker industry secret that’s been quietly circling for some time now: the Kistermanns will soon be debuting a collaborative project between their sneaker brand Crime London and movie industry heavyweight Warner Bros for a limited-edition capsule collection, the perfect cap to their film-centric weekend.
Merging modern fashion culture with streetwear, the Kistermanns’ Crime London has become a wardrobe favorite of celebrities across the world. The brand’s forward-thinking sneaker silhouettes are matched with an infusion of retro motifs, a look that lends itself well to the nostalgic characters of Warner Brothers fame that are fixtures in countless people’s lives.
Crime London has previously hinted at the highly-anticipated collaboration on its social channels, and is whispered to be working closely with Warner Brothers to design pieces featuring iconic cartoon characters of the house such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Road Runner from the Looney Tunes; exploring the fun-filled universe of 90’s basketball nostalgia with Michael Jordan’s Space Jam, and many more iconic animations that should be revealed as more information comes to light on the collection’s eventual release date.
The upcoming series is expected to rekindle memories for lovers of the humorous classics and high-energy cartoon characters with a streetwear-ready Crime London remix; and while the highly-anticipated sneakers may be a tad casual to rock the red carpet of Cannes, knowing the Kistermanns’ daring penchant for unexpected style choices, perhaps Crime London x Warner Bros will become the next darling of the international red carpet circuit.
This year’s iteration of Cannes had a number of highly-anticipated films to look forward to, much like Warner Bros’ Elvis. Held in the south of France, the annual event produces one of the glitziest and most glamorous red carpets in the world, competing only with the Oscars and the Met Gala for the top spot of most fashion-forward events on the international circuit. A-list stars will travel over from Hollywood to climb the event’s signature crimson steps, rocking their finest suits and gowns, which are often custom-made, haute couture, or fresh off the runway from the globe’s top designers.
While the film festival’s primary purpose is to celebrate the best in achievements of international cinema, the red carpet is also known for producing some stunning celebrity-style moments, expanding beyond an artistic event into an opportunity to serve some major looks that set the tone for 2022’s following fashion trends.
Along with the festival returns a multitude of events – including the beloved black-tie amfAR Gala Cannes, one of the most glamorous evenings of the red carpet circuit, bringing together the stars of the Croisette at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes for a good cause in supporting the Foundation for AIDS Research. The gala’s 28th anniversary hosted numerous movers-and-shakers from across the world, including swoon-worthy performances by Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, and Charli XCX and a fashion show led by industry legend Carine Roitfeld. Jessica wore a sleek open-back black gown by Parisian fashion house Maison Margiela, accessorized by a black Hermes pochette, while Lisa pulled an archival vintage white silk tuxedo designed by Roberto Cavalli given an extra splash of sparkle with the diamond-studded tiara adorning her head.
Keeping philanthropy close to their hearts, Lisa and Jessica regularly support several programs and charity organizations that invest in vulnerable communities, giving multi-year support and pushing to influence other donors through their social platforms. As a result, the Kistermanns have resolved to donate a portion of their proceeds from a number of Crime London’s online campaigns.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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