The Hilltop
DREA
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Wednesday, September 22, 2010
MERS
&
B E L I E V E R S
What is your mission? Our mission and daily objective is to turn the everyday Dreamer into a Believer of his or her dreams. Why did you start the company? Dreamers and Believers was conceived while I was going through hardships as an event promoter in my hometown of Pittsburgh, Penn. I had an unsuccessful event. Since event promotion was my means for paying my tuition I was forced to take a semester off. While at home in Pittsburgh I had the desire to create a brand that could be everlasting, something that couldn’t be made or broke in one night or in one week such as an event. I turned my bedroom into my studio and went to work as a fashion designer. Do you run it with anyone? Dreamers and Believers is a complete one-man operation ran by myself, Alvin Canty, senior fashion merchandising major, Pittsburg, Penn. What separates you from the thousand of other budding designers in the country? Everything you see is done in-house. Done by one man. My ambition is unmatched and I am willing to learn what I need to succeed. Nothing will stop my dream. What type of pieces do you make? Currently Dreamers and Believers consists of street wear items such as t-shirts and polos. But the fall line will have collard shirts, woven shirts, cardigans, and varsity jackets with a denim appearance in the spring. What’s your inspiration behind your designs and collections? My inspiration comes from everyday things that catch my attention and move me in a way I haven’t previously felt. Local art exhibits and various movements in the fashion industry also inspire me. What should we expect next? You can expect the fall/winter collection to drop in late October and denim line dropping in 2011. Why should Howard invest in you? I work harder than most, and Howard has the opportunity to see me climb from the bottom to the top with the knowledge that they had a huge impact on my success and witnessed it all. Where can students go to buy your merchandise? My merchandise is sold exclusively at Time Bomb and 412 retailers in Pittsburgh PA. I plan to relaunch the website in late October along with the fall collection.
L A V I TA
Who Runs It? - Nate Alabi, Houston, Texas by way of Los Angeles, Biology/Pre-Med major. - Philip Armstrong, Houston, Texas, Finance major - Ryan Grant, Houston, Texas, Pre-Law major (University of Houston) How did La Vita get started? Starting a clothing line had always been one of my main goals. I wanted a brand that could combine my artistic abilities with my take on fashion. I got with two of my closets friends, shared some ideas and, voila, you have La Vita. What separates La Vita from other up and coming brands? Pure originality and artistry. Although we are a new brand, not even a year old, you can see that all of our pieces are instant classics. We can’t seem to keep the shelves stocked! What are your inspirations? Each piece that we have produced so far has been influenced by some sort of experience in one of our lives. I may have a dream one night, wake up, and draw a sketch of a design from that dream. Nothing’s ever really “planned” to happen, I think that’s what keeps it all original. Where do you see La Vita in the future? In the long run, I want La Vita to go world wide, in everybody’s closet from Nigeria to Australia. Also I want the brand to dive into other aspects like paintings, accessories, etc. Where can we find your clothes? My clothes are sold at www.lavitaclothing.com. All purchases can be made there. Why the name “La Vita”? I wanted the brand to reflect all aspects of life, whether it be the good, the bad, or the ugly. La Vita is Italian for “the life”. Simple and to the point. I was always a fan of the Italian mob as a kid so it was the first language I turned to.
The Hilltop
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