Hank
Gerry BuildingSuite 405(213) 629-0164
Hank, a label named for a peripatetic guy who was equally at home on a surfboard as well as in a Manhattan apartment, is on the move.
The young contemporary sportswear collection used to be represented by the Tool Box showroom in the New Mart.
But as the Los Angeles company has grown, so has its sales needs.
So the company is opening a new corporate showroom on the fourth floor of the Gerry Building, where surrounding neighbors include Tag Rag, Enyce, Baby Phat and Scam-Co.
Sander Weintraub, the owner of Hank, launched the company in 1999, deciding to name his new venture after a second cousin named Hank Reinholt. Hank’s lifestyle incorporated a certain joie de vivre, from surfing in Southern California to making his own hand-dyed and printed T-shirts out of his garage in the 1960s before venturing off to go globetrotting.
Weintraub adopted Hank as his male muse, first starting a menswear line before changing to childrenswear and finally to his current line of young women’s contemporary sportswear, which encompasses Tshirts, pants and skirts.
“Everything we make is made in North Hollywood,” said Weintraub. “So we can put in as much quality as we need and not worry about price points.” The 1,100-square-foot showroom was recently painted various shades of pink. The sound of hammers provided constant background noise as the push was on to ready the showroom for the Fall II/Holiday 2004 Los Angeles Market Week.
For Fall 2004, the company’s designer, Alen Vartanian, is introducing Hank Softees, a collection of soft cotton knit dressing that consists mostly of tops including V-neck tanks, U-neck bell-sleeve tees and ballet tees coupled with long and short skirts in various shades. Wholesale prices range from $14 to $22.
The Holiday 2004 line incorporates reverse two-tone fleece and tie-dyed tees in prints that would have made “Grateful Dead” guitarist Jerry Garcia feel right at home. Jackets, pants and skirts are in matching knit fabrics. Other fabrics include French terry and baby thermal. Wholesale prices are $20 to $42.
The line is carried at higher-end retailers such as Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Kitson and H. Lorenzo. In England, it is being carried at Harvey Nichols as well as Selfridges. —Deborah Belgum
