Got Fashion Game?
NBA stars Derek Fisher and Nick Van Exel built clothing companies. Former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson also jumped into the fashion game recently. His Magic Johnson Signature line of clothing offers fashion- inspired suits for NBA-sized guys as well as the average bloke. On March 17, he made an appearance at the Paolo Cellini boutique in downtown Los Angeles on behalf of his fledgling label.
“People kept asking me where I got my suits,” said Johnson, who has struck a licensing agreement with Los Angeles–based Poushak Inc., makers of suit line Zanetti, for a line of clothes bearing the Magic Johnson name. The collection debuted August 2005. Paolo Cellini co-owner Peyman Kohanzadeh said the suit offered fashion at affordable price points; $249–$349 for the label’s average suit. The label’s upcoming EMJ line of men’s suits will focus on suits for the office.
Johnson said he could conceivably add the moniker “designer” to his already lengthy list of avocations ranging from athlete, theater owner, real estate developer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. When asked if he had a hand in designing the clothes, the affable Johnson smiled and said, “I’m involved in every aspect of this business.” —Andrew Asch
