New Hires at Howe
Menswear brand Hause of Howe has grown its executive ranks with the addition of a new national sales manager and director of marketing. Effective immediately, Keith Cokes and Ken Blaustein will serve as the heads of sales and marketing, respectively.
The brand, which fuses West Coast cool with a rock ’n’ roll attitude, recently reorganized its offerings into three distinct collections. Cokes, who will be responsible for overseeing domestic distribution and assisting in product development, joins Howe after a stint as creative director for Dallas-based Lifestyle Fashion Terminal, a 30,000-square-foot retailer with 12 individual shop-in-shops.
“I plan to create a supportive selling environment to give the collection its due. Howe’s potential as a brand has not been fully realized, and I am looking forward to tapping into that,” Cokes said. “I have been given an opportunity to be instrumental in guiding this brand to the forefront of the contemporary men’s fashion market and, as one of the newest members of the Howe team, I get to work with a group of professionals who are ready to shift into high gear and claim the lane that is rightfully ours.”
Blaustein is steeped in the music culture that acts as Howe’s muse. A music-industry veteran, Blaustein most recently acted as the artists and repertoire director for Capitol Music Group. At Howe, Blaustein will focus on growing the brand’s awareness and enhancing its rock ’n’ roll roots.
“I’m excited to bring my more than 14 years in the music business and apply it to an industry that I’ve closely admired and studied for years. Coming to work for a men’s fashion brand like Howe is inspiring, and I’m eager to bring a different perspective to the table,” he said. “I’m looking forward to introducing a series of faces to these ’indie executives’ because it’s the lifeblood of our core consumer and who we are inspired by and design for. We cater to them and the people that aspire to be them.” —Erin Barajas
