Westlife Boosts Apparel Offerings, Moves to O.C.
Westlife Distribution USA LLC, which distributes 686 and Sepia brand clothing, has officially moved its headquarters from San Pedro, Calif., to Irvine, Calif., more than doubling the size of its offices.
The 13-year-old company, known for its technical snowboard apparel, has expanded its offerings to include more street- and casualwear, including denim, wovens and knits. The move south puts Westlife closer to the pulse of Orange County’s action-sports industry, according to President and Creative Director Michael Akira West, who said the company needed a central location and more space for its growing business.
“We’re not a skate/surf company; we’re more outdoor/active now,” West said. “With our new offerings, we wanted to provide something for after snowboarding. You don’t want to wear the same stuff then, so this is a natural progression.”
West described the new slant as being part high-end English aristocrat mixed with the “organic dirt of outdoor living” while still incorporating many of the technical features of the core line.
Growth has put Westlife’s brands in more than 1,000 stores. In addition, the company has been adding more designers and support staff. In April, the company hired Kristin Cusic as marketing manager. In May, it named snowboarders Shaun McKay and Marco Feichtner to its stable of endorsers.
The new 25,000-square-foot warehouse is located at 20 Goodyear in Irvine.
For more information, visit www.westlifedistribution.com. —Robert McAllister
