50 ELEPHANT STUDIO
“The leaves change with every new fashion season,” notes Kristopher Johns, founder of Elephant Studio and designer of the Adele logo, based on a Norwegian Maple. The tree in question belonged to the clothing boutique’s namesake, Adele Lepore, the owner’s grandmother and shopping mentor. “It was this massive landmark that took over the front yard of her grandmother’s home,” Johns continues. “A lot of childhood memories coincided with that tree.” To emphasize the tree’s storybook nature, clothing tags and business cards were cut like bookmarks and letterpress-printed. Colors for these materials, as well as for the store’s signboards and website, reflect whatever fashion collection—spring, summer, fall or winter/resort—is current.

While Adele has only been open in Laguna Beach, Calif., since April 2007—the website, www.shopadele.com, followed in September—customers are already excited by this timeless, yet ever changing brand. “They just swing by to say hi,” Johns reports. He attributes much of the store’s early success to the client, his wife Amy, who runs the business and seeks out young, up-and-coming designers. “We each have our role and trust each other implicitly,” he says of their collaboration. “I think it worked out fantastically.” by Stephanie Greene

Elephant Studio | Creative Director: Kristopher Johns | Client: Adele | Contact: www.elephantstudio.com