Idol Radec: Neo Prep
Launched in 2007, Idol Radec debuted as a fashion-driven golfwear line for young men. “We put together a Fall/Winter collection to test the market,” said Nick Thomas, who, along with David Hickman and Scott Barclay, designs the Orange County, Calif.–based collection. “It was a great learning experience for us, and we got good feedback.” Now, for Spring 2008, the brand (whose logo is Janus, the Roman god of new beginnings) is reinventing itself as a preppy sportswear line for young men.
“We didn’t keep anything from the original line, except the young feel, which is what we got a good response to. The new line is a lot deeper and has a preppy feel but is more slim, more sleek and sexy,” Thomas said. The reinvented Idol Radec has a country-club sensibility, which makes it ideal for the privileged set that doesn’t want to wear streetwear. Packed with classic slim jackets, sweater vests, fine cotton broadcloth woven shirts, fitted polo shirts, spotted ties and tailored trousers, the collection is chic and understated, with a few youthful punches. A slim reversible swim trunk in Japanese nylon features golden hardware and a loop on the waistband from which to hang sunglasses. A motorcycle-style jacket in brown or black check features lavender satin lining. A wool cardigan features antique brass buttons.
“We designed Idol Radec to be a cool, young, hip young men’s line for athletic guys,” Thomas said. “It is totally for our lifestyle. There isn’t a lot out there for us. It’s all either too military or too mod,” he said. Golf still gets a nod, with dashes of plaid and plenty of crisp whites. “We do golf a lot; we’re just not crazy-good,” Thomas laughed. The young designers are also hoping that Idol Radec’s new direction will help the brand cross over into boutiques with more of a streetwear focus. “We leave a lot of room for customers to be able to style our pieces however they want. It’s very accessible,” Thomas said.
Now in approximately 20 stores—including Fred Segal Santa Monica, Planet Blue and Kitson in Los Angeles and Atrium and In God We Trust in New York —Idol Radec is looking to grow its distribution. Wholesale prices for the line range from $115 to $165 for jackets, $80 to $86 for sweaters, $39 to $84 for knit and woven shirts, and $89 to $99 for pants. For more information, call (213) 689-7730 or visit the Proper Fools showroom, located in suite 520 of the Cooper Design Space. —E.B.
