THE EDEN PARK STORY

The extraordinary story of how a family-run Parisian fashion label went from a simple idea to being a major player in the world of high-end ready-to-wear clothes. A true story born on the playing fields of French rugby in the mid-1980’s, the colourful saga of a group of eccentric, free-thinking rugby players, and a brand which rocketed from its humble beginnings on the Rue de Courcelles in the 17th arrondissement of Paris to a thriving business with an annual turnover of over $82million, and 360 points of sale across 35 different countries.

 

Eden Park. The name itself, as we shall see, is synonymous with the game of Rugby. But over the past 37 years, the brand of clothing, and its iconic Pink Bow Tie logo have also become synonymous with a certain style. Stylish but never stuffy, chic but always comfortable, respectful of tradition, but always pushing the boundaries of innovation. In France it’s known as the Eden Park look, an uncompromising search for elegance and meticulous attention to detail. Combined with high-quality ethically sourced fabrics, the brand boasts a unique fusion of contemporary Parisian chic with Eden Park’s own authentic, and unmistakable, identity.

THE PINK BOW TIE

Where does the Pink Bow Tie logo come from?

 

Like the brand name itself, the logo comes from authentic events, typically Parisian pranks perpetrated by Mesnel and his fellow players, most notably in the two Championship finals of 1987 and 1990.

 

As such, they are an essential ingredient of the Eden Park DNA – epitomizing the spirit of contradiction and the elegant rebellion which epitomize the brand since its inception.

 

Historically, the Bow Tie has always been associated with a refusal to accept conventional mores, and a certain free-spirited elegance. 

 

The bow tie appeared in France in the 17th century and is believed to have originated from the Croatian cravat, brought back by French soldiers after the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). Croatian horsemen wore scarves of different colors to indicate their rank a custom that French soldiers quickly adopted and adapted to their own style. In fact, the French word "cravate" is a corruption of the Croatian word "Hvate".

In the USA, in October of 1886, Franco-American industrialist Pierre Lorillard designed a new style of formal wear, famously wearing it for the first time to a formal ball held at the Tuxedo club. Named after his family’s estate in Tuxedo Park (an area just outside of New York City), Lorillard’s tuxedo became an instant hit among other wealthy fashion enthusiasts. The tuxedo and black bow tie look, which became known as “black tie” attire, quickly outmoded the antiquated tailcoat and white bow tie as the primary formal outfit for men, a fashion change that has yet to be overturned to this day.

 

As for France, it wasn’t until 1904 that the term "nœud papillon" (bow tie) entered common usage. It was thanks to the immense popularity of Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly in which the main character made a strong impression on the public by wearing this accessory that this new form of cravat came to be known in France as the nœud papillon, in reference to the opera’s title.

As for the emblematic Eden Park pink colour, the idea came during a Racing Club team dinner in the days before the 1987 club final. In their usual laid-back style, Mesnel and Co were looking for something “festive and classy” to wear in this historic Championship final. 

 

“It had to be elegant, it had to be festive, and it also had to express our Parisian style, and our free spirit,” remembers Mesnel. “We hit on the idea of the Bow Tie, but it needed something else. The colour pink was already one of our trademarks, because we carried around a Pink Panther as team mascot.” So, when Eric Blanc suggested combining the two, little knowing that it would become a fashion logo recognizable around the world, the Pink Bow Tie was born. 

Eden park:the origin
Title

Situated in the suburb of Kingsland in Auckland, Eden Park is New Zealand’s biggest and most famous Rugby ground. Considered the country’s national stadium, it has been the site of Rugby internationals since 1921, and is the only ground in the world to have hosted two Rugby World Cup finals, in 1987 and 2011, coincidentally both between New Zealand and France. 

 

Born around 1900 on a marshy field at the foot of an extinct volcano called Maungawhau by the Māori, but renamed "Mount Eden" by British settlers, Eden Park became the official stadium of the Auckland cricket team in 1910. In 1914, the New Zealand national team hosted Australia there for its first international match, but it wasn’t until 1921 that the New Zealand rugby team played its first historic match on the Eden Park turf—a 5–9 defeat against South Africa.

 

Arguably one of the most difficult places in the world for visiting teams to win, the All Blacks have not lost a game here since they lost to France in July 1994. Indeed, although France lost both World Cup finals (29-9 and 8-7).

This is the place where French Rugby gained its letters of nobility. In 1968, the magnificent French team with Walter Spanghero, Jo Maso and Pierre Villepreux almost scored an historic win in New Zealand, scoring 3 tries to 2 against the All Blacks. In 1979, Jean-Pierre Rives and his men went one better, in the famous Bastille Day victory, winning on New Zealand soil for the first time in history, and winning the hearts of Eden Park’s 57,000 spectators, running in 4 tries to 2.

 

 

In 1994, although injured and unable to play, Franck Mesnel was part of the team which famously beat the All Blacks 22-8 at Eden Park, which is the last time the New Zealanders have been beaten in the national fortress in Auckland. And more recently, on October 23 2011, the rebellious and unpredictable French almost caused a major upset on this hallowed ground. In the Rugby World Cup final, New Zealand versus France, the host nation were clear favourites, especially after beating the French 37-17 four weeks previously in pool play. But in a tense, heart-stopping final the under-rated French pushed the All Blacks to the limit, only losing by a single point, 8-7.

Eden park:
the origin

Situated in the suburb of Kingsland in Auckland, Eden Park is New Zealand’s biggest and most famous Rugby ground. Considered the country’s national stadium, it has been the site of Rugby internationals since 1921, and is the only ground in the world to have hosted two Rugby World Cup finals, in 1987 and 2011, coincidentally both between New Zealand and France. 

 

Born around 1900 on a marshy field at the foot of an extinct volcano called Maungawhau by the Māori, but renamed "Mount Eden" by British settlers, Eden Park became the official stadium of the Auckland cricket team in 1910. In 1914, the New Zealand national team hosted Australia there for its first international match, but it wasn’t until 1921 that the New Zealand rugby team played its first historic match on the Eden Park turf—a 5–9 defeat against South Africa.

 

Arguably one of the most difficult places in the world for visiting teams to win, the All Blacks have not lost a game here since they lost to France in July 1994. Indeed, although France lost both World Cup finals (29-9 and 8-7).

 

This is the place where French Rugby gained its letters of nobility. In 1968, the magnificent French team with Walter Spanghero, Jo Maso and Pierre Villepreux almost scored an historic win in New Zealand, scoring 3 tries to 2 against the All Blacks. In 1979, Jean-Pierre Rives and his men went one better, in the famous Bastille Day victory, winning on New Zealand soil for the first time in history, and winning the hearts of Eden Park’s 57,000 spectators, running in 4 tries to 2.

 

In 1994, although injured and unable to play, Franck Mesnel was part of the team which famously beat the All Blacks 22-8 at Eden Park, which is the last time the New Zealanders have been beaten in the national fortress in Auckland. And more recently, on October 23 2011, the rebellious and unpredictable French almost caused a major upset on this hallowed ground. In the Rugby World Cup final, New Zealand versus France, the host nation were clear favourites, especially after beating the French 37-17 four weeks previously in pool play. But in a tense, heart-stopping final the under-rated French pushed the All Blacks to the limit, only losing by a single point, 8-7.