(stylized KOSÉ) is a Japanese multinational personal care company, marketing
cosmetics
Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...
,
skin care
Skin care is a range of practices that support skin integrity, enhance its appearance, and relieve skin conditions. They can include nutrition, avoidance of excessive sun exposure, and appropriate use of emollients. Practices that enhance appea ...
and
hair care
Hair care is an overall term for hygiene and cosmetology involving the hair which grows from the human scalp, and to a lesser extent facial, pubic and other body hair. Hair care routines differ according to an individual's culture and the physic ...
products.
History
The company was founded in 1946 by Kozaburo Kobayashi with his son as the principal chemist. In 1956, the company established
Albion
Albion is an alternative name for Great Britain. The oldest attestation of the toponym comes from the Greek language. It is sometimes used poetically and generally to refer to the island, but is less common than 'Britain' today. The name for Scot ...
, a manufacturer of premium cosmetics. Kosé and
L’Oréal of France signed an agreement for technological cooperation, a joint venture that lasted until 2001. The company expanded its international presence in Asia during the 1960s to the 1980s. The company's name was changed to its present one in 1991, while in 2000 it was listed on the First Section of the
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , abbreviated as Tosho () or TSE/TYO, is a stock exchange located in Tokyo, Japan. It is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies, and the largest in Asia. It had 2,292 listed co ...
.
Kazutoshi Kobayashi, the founder's grandson, took over as the company's CEO in 2007. Under the leadership of the new CEO, Kosé introduced the
Jill Stuart
Jill Stuart (born 1965) is an American fashion designer based in New York City, where she has been operating since 1988. She established her eponymous label in 1993. She also has a significant international client base, particularly in Japan.
...
branded cosmetics after the company acquired global trademark rights for the brand in 2009. Kosé subsequently expanded into the
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
an and
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
n markets when it acquired
Tarte Cosmetics
Tarte Cosmetics is an American cosmetics company headquartered in New York City.
It was founded by Maureen Kelly in 1999; her first product was a cheek stain that was used the following year for the cover of ''Self'' magazine. Also in 2000, Tart ...
in 2014.
Advertising
Kosé's products were advertised over the years by models including
Kate Moss
Katherine Ann Moss (born 16 January 1974) is a British model. Arriving at the end of the "supermodel era", Moss rose to fame in the early 1990s as part of the heroin chic fashion trend. Her collaborations with Calvin Klein brought her to fas ...
for its Decorté brand photographed by
Mario Testino
Mario Eduardo Testino Silva OBE HonFRPS (born 30 October 1954) is a Peruvian fashion and portrait photographer.
His work has featured internationally in magazines such as ''Vogue, V Magazine,'' '' Vanity Fair'' and '' GQ.'' He has also cre ...
, and
Yui Aragaki
is a Ryukyuan Japanese actress, model, singer and occasional radio show host. She has been selected several times as the most desired girlfriend and the most desired female celebrity face in Oricon's yearly survey.
Early life
She was born on J ...
, for the Esprique line of makeup.
See also
*
D.League
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Cosmetics companies of Japan
Chemical companies based in Tokyo
Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange
Chemical companies established in 1946
Japanese companies established in 1946
Multinational companies headquartered in Japan
Japanese brands