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Alternative Apparel was founded by Greg Alterman. At age 19 he began designing t-shirts while attending college at the University Of Florida; while selling the college logo branded t-shirts throughout the dorm rooms and out of his VW Bus, the t-shirts rapidly gained popularity. Greg did learn an invaluable lesson during these times about license infringements as he soon found himself in a bit of trouble. Legalities aside and licensing now in hand, Alterman began selling throughout the Campus Stores, fraternities, campus bookstores, and local department stores.
After sometime of selling the t-shirts, Greg Alterman founder of Alternative Apparel in the beginning stated: "They were too big, too rough, they didn't fit right, they looked horrible on, and they were itchy, everything about the [apparel] was what I didn't want, so I went off to create what I did want, and that became Alternative.”; soon after Greg went to China to discover unique perfectly fitted blank garments.
In 1996 the company Alternative Apparel created by Greg Alterman went wholesale and started distributing the garments on a global level. In 2006 as the Alternative Apparel had gained enormous popularity and established multiple retail stores had sought out to change their entire image after “Alternative”.
Today the company has a focus of making a conservative difference of sorts. Conservative on the level of Global and Earthly awareness, focused on the effort to sustain our natural environment as the apparel is now eco-friendly. The garments are 100% Organic cotton while still maintaining that vintage softness. Greg’s comments and efforts are further justified in the article: High eco-uture: L.A. designers take Earth-friendly recycled rags uptown or Alternative Announces Eco-Friendly Collection, Alternative Earth
Since the launch and huge success of the Alternative Apparel clothing line, Greg Alterman has taken on a few other ventures. One and most popular would be the joint venture in Icebox. Along with his Brother Scott, Icebox focuses on branded apparel and promotional products.
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Birdie Jo Swimwear
Rebecca Fink and Kate Richer founded Birdie Jo Swimwear in the fall of 2003. Hailing from Hollywood, California the dual realized there was a niche not yet filled in Women’s Swimwear. A fashion forward swimsuit with a sexy cut was a bit cumbersome to find in the Market of ladies swimwear. Rebecca + Kate soon set out to create the luxurious line of ladies Swimwear, from only the highest quality of knits and fabric from France and Italy.
Birdie Jo Swimwear has grown significantly in the past few years. The Swimwear collection has had numerous Publications since its launch, including the likes of Vogue, Lucky, Fitness, Sports Illustrated, Cosmo, Show&Tell, etc. Birdie Jo Swimwear leaps into 2008 with the: “From Mod to Disco” collection of fabrics that combines directly influenced fashions from the late 50s to late 70s.
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Brixton Hats
Brixton Hats are designed from three Southern California friends who wanted to portray their lifestyle through their unique hats. The hat inspired through Music, culture, and the people who surround them.
The Brixton Hat collection started in 2004. The unique collection definitely appeals to the individual at heart. The Hat line comes in numerous Styles and flavors. Each piece is constructed with the commitment to bringing the consumer a high quality, limited and one of a kind product the consumer will want to hold on forever.
Since their Launch in 2004 Brixton hats have been blowing up everywhere. Press releases for Brixton LTD include multiple music, art and alternative sports magazines such as Filter, Spin, Bliss, Fader, Transworld, etc. Also not to mention many Celebrities and Bands have been seen wearing the Brixton Hats. |
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Cuffz By Linz
Cuffz by Linz are the brain child of Linz Shelton. A San Francisco Native whom currently resides in Los Angeles, California. While in LA Linz soon partnered up with long time friend Kyle Eliason to build “CUFFZ”. The Cuffz bags have since been blowing up all over the place.
The Ladies started off building Cuffz bags in Linz's living room which had handcuffs and metal scraps all over the place. The ladies individually hand made each hand bag from hand. Today, each bag is assembled by hand by skilled leather craftsmen in Los Angeles.
CUFFZ still takes a hands-on approach to their manufacturing: Linz still hand-selects the best leather hides, and each piece is individually cut to ensure that the best parts of that hide are used for each bag. All hardware is cut and assembled by hand as well in Los Angeles, and it's still not unusual to catch Linz or Kyle holding the bolt cutters! Every piece still goes through Linz and/or Kyle's hands for quality approval before it leaves the warehouse.
Since the initial production of the Bags, CUFFZ has come a long way. Paris Hilton claimed the Barfly was her favorite bag. Numerous photographs are around of her wearing it. Since, many celebrities have followed in the wake, such as Mischa Barton, Jaime Pressly, Tara Reid, Adrianne Curry, Nicolette Sheridan, Pamela Anderson, Courtney Love, Rachel Hunter, Kelly Hu, Rosanna Arquette, Carolina Bacardi, and Kimberly Stewert. Cuffz bags have also appeared on The OC, The Simple Life, Desperate Housewives, MTV's The Real World, The L Word, My Fair Brady, So NoTORIous, Joey, E News Live, Fox News, and Access Hollywood.
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Free People Clothing
The Free People Clothing line was created by Dick Hayne. Out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania he had opened a Store for the free people that lived around there as they would probably want a little freedom of their own and the clothes they wore. The Store soon grew from one to numerous Stores then the name soon changed from Free People to Urban Outfitters.
After awhile The Free People Clothing now called Urban Outfitters ran by and Dick Hayne’s soon needed help. His Wife Meg had stepped in to lend support to Urban’s private label division. Soon of course the line blew up and they both had decided to create a wholesale line. This also did very well, this time it did so well Dick decided to separate the Business. For some time the wholesale line took on numerous Brand names including: Bulldog, Ecote, Cooperative, Anthropologie, and then in 1984 the Clothing Line became Free People.
The brand Free People Collection today has countless options. If you are to go shopping for Free People with your BFF you will not come out looking like the same person. The line is unique in every aspect, comfortable in every parameter. Next on par for Free People will to continually bring you the comforate and sexiness you deserve.
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Heatherette
Based out of New York, created by Richie Rich and Traver Rains the Heatherette Collection has come a long way. The collection started out in l999, the duo began a collaborative effort, making t-shirts out of their house as a hobby. Richie the infamous club goer wore one of the t-shirts out to a party. At the same party was a Buyer for the local Patricia Fields store whom immediately bought 20 of the shirts on the spot. Once the store got a hold of it took off, especially with the Celebs. After Celebrities such as Gwen Stefani, Paris, Shirley Manson, started wearing the Heatherette garments publications of the collection could not be missed.
Although Richie and Traver have been very busy with their Heatherette collection they have also had time to contribute to good causes such as the VH1 Save the Music Foundation and also designing a custom shirt for the Human Rights Campaign. There is an article on “Exclusive Heatherette Shirt for Human Rights Campaign a Hit During Fashion Week”, if you would like to read more.
The Heatherette Clothing Line is unique to say the least. There is a lot of history regarding the 2 designers. Richie was a competitive ice skater, and Traver competed in numerous horse shows. They both ended up in NYC and the rest is history. There are numerous fan sites and information sites out there about Heatherette if you would like more information on the amazing clothing collection.. |
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!it Jeans
!iT JEANS. Los Angeles lifestyle.
Based in Los Angeles, !iT JEANS has established itself as the young contemporary denim lifestyle brand,
incorporating the original visions that stem from this city. Exuding the Los Angeles culture and inspired by the
many facets of this dynamic and alluring city, !iT JEANS consistently offers key style in the collection within
reach for real people.
Kimmy Song, founder and CEO launched !iT JEANS in 2003 and leads her team to provide the best quality, fit
and style in denim. Originally known for the famous 5 fits for women, she understood that each person was an
individual with specific needs and this niche in the market was unfulfilled. 2003 also witnessed the launch of
girl’s and in Fall 2006, !iT JEANS lifestyle evolution will again forge ahead with the introduction of men and
boy’s.
The collection now includes a range of tops, jackets, light outerwear, leather-goods and leather jackets with
additional lifestyle categories currently under review.
!iT JEANS is available across the USA in major stores such as Nordstrom, Macy’s, Von Maur and The Buckle as
well as better boutiques and specialty stores such as Fred Segal and E-Street Denim.
!iT JEANS continues its quest to bring the Los Angeles Lifestyle globally. !iT JEANS is now distributed in
countries such as Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Japan and Korea.
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Local Celebrity started in 2003. The idea for Local Celebrity started
while the founders were at a music festival in rural Illinois– Cornerstone. They were rocking out in the middle of a corn field when
inspiration struck like heavy metal thunder, "Let's ditch our jobs and
start a t-shirt company!" So, pretty much just like that they packed
their bags and headed out west to shack it up at their grandmother's
ranch in San Diego to start Local Celebrity T-shirts. After a long
road trip, a few brain-storming sessions, and a couple dozen high
fives, they came up with the first set of Local Celebrity designs– and that's where Local Celebrity T-shirts all started.
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The development of the Maya Swimwear Collection stemmed from Designer Carolina Dinardi. Launched in 2001 with long time friend Lili Bivort, the line has been accepted with huge success.
At a young age Carolina Dinardi always enjoyed dreaming up fashion concoctions. Both her Mom and Grandfather were also Fashion Designers, so she was constantly envisioning new ideas. It all seemed to begin as somewhat of a hobby, until Carolina began creating pillows out of left over material. Her friends and family caught wind of her creations and loved them, they soon demanded more out of the then young child.
Carolina in her late teens had taken a family trip. Upon arrival to the destination she went shopping for a swimsuit. Unfortunately she was unable to find a swimsuit to make her comfortable. So she immediately decided to make one herself. This was inevitably the beginning of Maya Swimwear.
Hailing out of the beaches of Uruguay the Maya Swimwear line soon blew up. Carolina Dinardi developed a swimsuit that was so irresistible, not only to friends and family but countless others. She soon began to launch the swimsuit line on a Global level.
The word Maya means "illusion" in Sanskrit, MAYA’s perfect blend of quality materials, sensual cuts and immaculate details fills a void in women’s swimwear.
"The main idea of my design is to combine glamour, style and femininity, without losing freedom. I want people to feel the confidence that comfort gives and have fun with it", says Carolina Dinardi, designer and founder of MAYA Swimwear.
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Salt Swimwear
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The Salt Swimwear Swimsuit line is unique to say the least. The Collection, a brain child of Miss Layla Pakzad, started in 2006. Currently the line in 2008 has recently been spotted on many well known Celebrities such as: Marissa Miller, Lindsay Lohan, Eva Longoria, Mena Suvari, Brooke Burke, among others.
Salt Swimwear is gaining a reputation quick, featured in Magazines such as US Weekly, Surfing Magazine, Vogue, Apparel News and others we will soon see this gorgeous swimwear collection everywhere. Salt Swimwear has a killer array of swimsuits. The Kate, Niki, Naomi, Sienna, Heidi, Claudia, Giselle, Bridget, just to name a few.
The Designer of Salt Swimwear: Layla Pakzad has lived and had her toes stuck in sands across the World. Her unique travels along with her Education from University of California, Santa Barbara and the Fashion Institute of Technology not only bring Fashion forward cuts, colors and designs for swimsuits but also an unforgettable style.
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The Yumi Kim Womens Clothing line was created by Kim Phan. The Kim Phan now based out of New York City has created a line of higher end vintage uniqueness. Kim as a child began her clothing passion from dressing up her dolls. That passion soon grew onto creating her own garments for the local High School Prom.
Kim Phan a graduate of San Diego State University soon moved on to New York City. This is where the popularity of the Yumi Kim line started to grow. Kim while in NYC began to work and design with many Celebs such as Cameron Diaz, Paris, Lohan, etc. After a few years of gaining contacts in the Fashion world Phan moved on to her own line of Clothing and branded it as Yumi Kim. She is also involved with project 159, have a look at the Yumi Kim Clothing line also.
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