Chelsea Burggren Named Head Designer for Split
Chelsea Burggren has been named head designer of Split Girls, a juniors action sports brand based in Santa Ana, Calif.
“We have wanted to bring Chelsea on full-time for quite a while now,” said Christina Smith, brand director. “She will be a great fit for our brand because she shares our vision and has the ability to take our brand into the niche we are wanting to be in.”
Burggren has held juniors apparel designer positions at Huntington Beach–based Quiksilver’s girls’ brands Roxy, O’Neil and Lost. For her first season at Split Girl, she plans to double the size of the collection.
“I’ve done the punky girl look and the surfer girl look, but the Split junior customer is the girl I’ve always wanted to design for— fashion- and trend-conscious without being over-trendy.”
Split Girls’ action sports lifestyle brand for young women started three years ago as a division of Split’s men’s line. The company designs, produces and distributes clothing, accessories and beach lifestyle products.
The company declined to give projections for 2003, but said it has doubled its juniors business since last year.
Split Girls is currently sold at more than 1,300 specialty retailers in the United States, including Nordstrom, Beckers, Huntington Surf and Sport and WRV on the East Coast. Additionally, the line is distributed in Canada, Japan and Europe. —Claudia Figueroa
