Dollimou: International Inspiration, Made in Los Angeles
Alexana Lambros adds a festive twist to her “dressed-up, dressed-down casual” knit separates by injecting inspiration from vacation-worthy cities. The first season of Dollimou shipping to stores now recalled Satilde;o Paulo, Brazil, through bright sequins and palm trees on a cropped tee. For Spring 2011, sailboat graphics and baby-blue nautical stripes were inspired by St-Tropez.
Lambros worked as a knits designer for juniors and young contemporary labels before launching her own line with partner and graphic designer Kim Kaufman last year.
Dollimou takes classic concepts of hoodies, cardigan sweaters, tops and bottoms; tweaks the cuts; and adds life with stripes, tie dyeing and graphics.
“I wanted it to be easy to understand but just really well done so that it stands out. I’m not rewriting any books here, but it’s L.A.,” Lambros said. “It’s a great time to exploit the coziness of a knit but make it really stylish. You look put together, but you feel like you’re in your house clothes.”
Lambros makes all of her own patterns and produces the line in Los Angeles. The name of the line, Dollimou, comes from the Greek nickname that Lambros’ grandmother called her, which translates to “my little doll.”
“It goes with my whole concept of being worldly and traveling. That’s kind of the spirit of this. You put the clothes on and feel like you’re on vacation even if you’re not,” Lambros said.
The line has been sold to stores in Southern California, where dressed-up casual is the status quo, such as Madison in Malibu and online, Fred Segal Girl in Santa Monica and Harmony Lane in Beverly Hills.
Wholesale price points for knit items in recycled cotton, poly/rayon/cotton jersey and poly/rayon cotton fleece range from $22 to $50. For more information, call (310) 466-5589.—Rhea Cortado
