Pink Fruit Energy: How Sandy Liang and Cou Cou Intimates Captured the Magic of Getting Dressed

Do you recall that feeling of preparing your outfit for your first day at school? Perhaps you meticulously organized your ensemble the evening prior, or made a trip to a retail outlet to gather items for the upcoming academic year: fresh writing supplies, or charming accessories with hopes of impressing a potential romantic interest.

For Cou Cou Intimates' inaugural collaborative effort, creator Rose Colcord and Manhattan-based designer of youthful aesthetics Sandy Liang have captured that nostalgic sensation into a range that appears to have emerged from a 2000s direct-mail publication, featuring "Days of the Week" undergarments and pajamas suited for sleepovers. The partnership between Sandy Liang and Cou Cou Intimates appeared destined to occur. Through an introduction by their shared acquaintance Madeleine, they arranged a casual hangout and discovered immediate rapport, with Colcord describing their connection as resembling a "house on fire." The union represents an ideal pairing, poised to captivate both social media platforms and the wallets of devoted online enthusiasts. The two founders sat down to discuss the venture in detail. During this exclusive discussion, Colcord participated from a gorgeous, time-weathered structure somewhere on the European continent, while a small collectible toy sat on a shelf in Liang's workspace. Following this partnership, questions linger about what comes next for the girlhood aesthetic.

When questioned about why this particular designer partnership was selected as Cou Cou Intimates' inaugural collaboration, given how both companies draw from themes of youthful femininity and sentimentality, Colcord explained her reasoning. She noted that Sandy's creative output emerges from more than simple nostalgia—it reimagines the past with lightheartedness and whimsy. Colcord compared Sandy to the girl in junior high who possessed a backyard trampoline, something she herself lacked, presenting an opportunity to infuse a Cou Cou product with that same carefree, entertaining quality.

Liang reciprocated the sentiment, noting that she and Colcord had immediately recognized that consumers who gravitate toward Sandy Liang pieces likely already own Cou Cou garments, making collaboration a natural progression. She described her design methodology as always considering the complete wardrobe of her intended wearer, someone whose style extends across multiple aesthetic moods rather than adhering to a singular look. Liang expressed enthusiasm for envisioning a customer first selecting Cou Cou pieces as a base layer, then layering Sandy Liang designs on top. She highlighted that collaborating on undergarments and tank tops proved remarkably enjoyable.

When the conversation turned to the underwear component, Liang reflected on a common childhood experience many shared—owning a set of day-designated undergarments. She recalled her first such set came from a mass-market retailer, with each pair featuring a unique small illustration. While nostalgic about numerous garments from her youth, Liang expressed particular affection for undergarments, feeling they carried an extra sense of femininity and specialness. She explained that when conceptualizing the collaboration, both designers felt drawn to the concept of maintaining this childhood tradition into adulthood—possessing day-of-the-week underwear as an adult represented a personal, private pleasure and source of quiet delight.

Colcord elaborated on another element of the collection: a tank top bearing the phrase "Well Read." She attributed the slogan to Liang's natural inquisitiveness visible throughout her design work. Colcord acknowledged that numerous contemporary brands have adopted literature-inspired themes, yet this concept has remained foundational to Cou Cou from its inception. The designers considered what "well read" signifies to them personally. Rather than referring to classical literature or lengthy philosophical texts, they defined it as engaging with any material that captures one's interest and generates happiness. Colcord added a humorous note, suggesting the phrase could literally instruct wearers to consult their undergarments when uncertain about what to do.

Reflecting on their most vivid memories of dressing for academic settings, Liang described how school mornings became when she truly began appreciating the act of self-presentation through clothing. She viewed dressing as a communication method, a way to convey identity and personal interests to peers. Simultaneously, she acknowledged complex emotions surrounding this experience, as her mother maintained rigid restrictions on shopping and acquisitions, transforming the daily act of choosing an outfit into something that felt like a small indulgence.

Colcord's school experience differed significantly, shaped by mandatory uniform requirements. The uniform itself—combining leaf-colored and bright blue components—was particularly unflattering, leading her to focus her adolescent fashion rebellion on small acts of resistance, such as shortening her skirt and leaving buttons undone. Her relationship with clothing changed when she transitioned to an all-female institution offering more sartorial freedom. Looking back, Colcord noted she had dressed exclusively for comfort during those years, occasionally even wearing bedtime attire and winter boots, expressing regret that the Sandy x Cou Cou pajama collection had not existed during that period of her life.

The conversation progressed to explore how children's literature served as inspiration for the collaboration. Liang revisited Colcord's earlier comments about the concept of being "well read," emphasizing it need not be an elaborate or serious endeavor. She explained her current reading consists largely of illustrated stories for her child, and that growing up, she maintained a deep appreciation for children's books and their artistic illustrations.

Colcord shared personal favorites, mentioning a classic tale about a secret garden as a cherished selection. She described the narrative as deeply meaningful—a compelling story exploring nature's restorative properties. She also cited another beloved work about a small prince, expressing genuine affection for both titles.

Liang responded with surprise, revealing that she had retained a memory of the garden-themed story as surprisingly melancholic, suggesting she might benefit from revisiting it with fresh perspective.

Colcord offered clarification, attributing the perceived sadness to one character's illness but explaining that the narrative's actual message centers on psychological transformation. She noted that this character initially harbored pessimistic thoughts, yet upon spending time in natural surroundings and among companions with more positive outlooks, his emotional state improved and healing occurred. She suggested Liang might find the rereading experience worthwhile.

Addressing what lessons adults might extract from children's perspectives and their relationship with literature, Colcord admitted her response might not be particularly groundbreaking. She explained that her young daughter continuously teaches her the value of presence, enjoyment, and the abundance of beauty and pleasure available to those who pay attention. Having spent several consecutive weeks in her daughter's company, Colcord observed that this experience rivals any formal meditation or mindfulness practice, and this understanding directly influenced the collaborative collection's development.

Liang affirmed Colcord's perspective, noting that she resonated completely with these sentiments. She reinforced that her entire brand philosophy centers on capturing nostalgic feelings and the emotional resonance of childhood experiences. For her, motherhood has functioned as a memory aid, offering reminders of what that earlier period of her life actually felt like, providing reassurance that these sensations were real and worth preserving.

When asked what elements from their younger selves the designers anticipated recognizing within the collection, Liang identified the playful spirit animating the pieces—characterized by lightness, enjoyment, and the simple pleasure of creating something for oneself.

Colcord concurred with this assessment.

Given that both founders have cultivated brands with devoted digital followings, they were asked to consider what characteristics the Sandy Liang consumer and the Cou Cou enthusiast might share. Colcord suggested that both audiences prioritize physical comfort and practicality while maintaining an aesthetic appeal. She articulated a philosophy that comfortable undergarments and a well-chosen dress serve as a foundation for accomplishing virtually anything.

Liang extended this thought, noting that both communities actively nurture their inner childhood selves. Rather than conforming to age-appropriate or profession-appropriate dress codes, both groups simply consider what their ten-year-old self would have treasured, allowing this reflection to guide their present decisions.

Discussing what each designer contributed to the partnership that might remain unexplored in their individual work, Colcord credited Liang with introducing elements of playfulness and the unexpected. She acknowledged that her own thinking tends toward utility and function. When they first connected virtually, Liang presented a reference image of a pink-hued fruit, which Colcord described as the creative catalyst for the collection. She laughed while recounting this detail, noting she likely would never have paused to contemplate such an image, yet something about its chromatic qualities sparked inspiration for Liang, and Colcord found this approach revelatory and exciting.

Liang emphasized that Colcord contributed her fundamental brand philosophy to the endeavor. She praised Colcord's deep investment in her company and her distinctly refined and unwavering aesthetic direction. Liang expressed that the opportunity to experiment within the recognizable Cou Cou design vocabulary felt dreamlike. Being selected as the inaugural collaborator held special significance for her. AM