Tuff Gong Finds Denim Revelation
The message of the late reggae star Bob Marley will live on through music—and fashion.
Tuff Gong Clothing, a men’s premium line, was recently debuted in Los Angeles by Rohan Marley, a son of the Jamaican music great. The label wears its inspiration close to its heart. The fronts of the T-shirts and the waistbands of the pants, both denim and non-denim, bear inspirational lyrics from Bob Marley’s songbook.
Rohan Marley and label partner Stefano Aldighieri, a former creative director for 7 For All Mankind jeans, sell the clothes at select Bloomingdale’s stores and at Fred Segal Santa Monica, and have been steadily raising the profile of their burgeoning label at events such as a party June 8 at the Push Emporium boutique in downtown Los Angeles.
The duo—Marley wearing dreadlocks and Aldighieri sporting a clean-shaven head—started the label Holiday 2005 with the promise that their collection would stay true to the reggae superstar’s vision and their ethics. The clothes are constructed in materials they deem to be healthy for the environment, such as organic cotton and hemp. They also stated that the clothes would not be assembled in sweatshops.
Tuff Gong’s T-shirts feature graphics of the proud lion that graced many of Bob Marley’s record jackets. Military-style woven shirts and bottoms feature details of the Rastafarian colors of green, gold and red. Price points range from $50 for a T-shirt to $200 for jeans and $300 for jackets.
The serious duo also allows space for whimsy. Tuff Gong’s rugby shirt bears a patch for Nine Miles Resort. Tourists might get lost looking for it, however. Nine Miles, the birthplace of Bob Marley, is still a roughhewn rural area that offers no luxury living.
Jokes aside, Rohan Marley hopes consumers find inspiration and good times from Tuff Gong’s clothes. “We want to keep [my] father’s message alive,” he said. “And we want to do it from a place that is pure.” —Andrew Asch
