Lucky Brand Founders Partner in Jean Shop
West Coast denim enthusiasts Gene Montesano and Barry Perlman, founders of Lucky Brand Dungarees, have partnered with Creative Director Eric Goldstein to bow Jean Shop in New York’s Meatpacking District.
The 1,000-square-foot retail boutique, nestled between the retail shrines of Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen, opened two months ago with high-end denim, leather jackets and accessories. Sources close to Montesano and Perlman said the long-time business partners wanted to create an incubator for new fashion and retail concepts. To achieve their vision, they partnered with New York–based denim designer Eric Goldstein, who previously designed for Ralph Lauren and Gap Inc., where he helped launch the 1969 denim brand during his 10 years with the company.
In addition to designing the Jean Shop collection, Goldstein conceptualized the store’s interior, which has a rustic denimshop feel, with hardwood floors and a brick wall. A rainbow of T-shirts hangs from a steel rack, and custom denim pieces and leather jackets are displayed on the walls like art. Accessories—such as wallets, bangle bracelets, purses and bandanas—are displayed in a glass case. A blue neon pig hangs above the store entrance.
The store sells men’s and women’s denim bottoms, novelty T-shirts, and custommade leather jackets, as well as handbags and jewelry. Retail price points range from $56 for a fine-gauge cotton T-shirt to $900 for a customized leather jacket. Bottoms, which start at $240 for basic denim, can also be customized with novelty washes and treatments such as patchwork, hand sanding, whiskering and deconstruction. Goldstein, who performs specialty treatments and custom designs on site, can turn an order around in just a few hours.
Founded in 1991, Lucky Brand Dungarees produces men’s, women’s and children’s casual apparel. The company’s wholesale and retail operations generated sales of more than $290 million last year. The denim maker operates 86 retail stores nationwide, including stores in Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Houston, Miami and New York.
Both Montesano and Perlman are keeping a tight lid on their new venture. “We think starting a new retail store is a really cool concept and is probably better off being a wellkept secret,” Perlman said.
New York–based Liz Claiborne Inc. acquired Lucky Brand Dungarees in 1999 during a West Coast buying binge that also included the acquisition of Laundry by Shelli Segal. Montesano and Perlman remain with the company but have also developed side projects.
In 2003, the duo launched Red Tiger Trading Co. Ltd. with partner and Lucky Brand executive vice president, Trent Merrill. The Los Angeles–based apparel company’s house labels include Capital Tailors, a men’s and women’s contemporary denim collection that pays close attention to construction; Ever, a better urbanwear line for young men and women; T, a novelty T-shirt collection for women; and Mijo, a colorful, lightweight better casual-chic collection for women.
The Red Tiger Trading Co. recently hired former California Mart (now called the California Market Center) and Sirena Apparel Group executive Maurice “Corky” Newman as director of operations.
—Claudia Figueroa
