DESIGNER'S PROFILE
Former USC Football Player Runs With Fashion
When Ahmed Mokhtar was a football player at the University of Southern California, the running back couldn’t find an affordable, comfortable and stylish hooded sweatshirt to wear off the field.
So despite his disapproving parents, Mokhtar took time off from school to create his own. His goal was to create a collection to serve what he considers an untapped market: men’s loungewear.
“As a college athlete, sweatpants were a staple of my wardrobe,” Mokhtar said. “They were the easiest thing to throw on after practice or for class, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that they made me look sloppy and un-put-together. I wanted clothes that combined comfort and style, and I couldn’t find any brands that did that. I was inspired to create comfortable clothes [men] could feel good in.”
Mokhtar initially launched Uncl on campusin 2009 with another USC teammate, Drew Ness, before officially launching it to the wholesale market the following year. (Ness eventually resigned from the company while Mokhtar independently moved forward.)
The name Uncl is a nod to Mokhtar’s family nickname—“uncle”—referring to his laid-back persona. Similarly, the Uncl collection has a laid-back and relaxed look—inspired by Mokhtar’s roots in Laguna Beach, Calif.
The Fall collection includes hoodies, tees, shorts and pants that come in soft cotton fabrics embossed with a “U” logo. The Fall collection features seven different fabrications: a loose-knit French-terry loop, a tighter-knit French-terry blend, a bamboo fleece, a MicroModal blend, a cotton/Modal blend, a three-end brushed fleece and a diagonal twill.
Mokhtar selects each of the fabrics himself to make sure the garments are as soft as possible. He combines a signature wash-and-dye processes to make sure the pieces are comfortable.
“We select the fabric based on how a specific product will be used,” he said, sounding more like a long-time apparel maker than a former college football player turned designer. “Our tees are made of MicroModal blends that offer a good fit that holds up after everyday wash and wear. The bamboo fleece is one of our coolest additions to the new line since it’s much lighter than our traditional three-end brushed fleece, giving the final product a relaxed yet stylish fit.”
Retail prices range from $45 to roughly $165. In addition to Uncl’s online store (www.shopuncl.com) national retailers such as Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom have picked up the line.
The brand has also garnered support from professional athletes such as Reggie Bush of the Detroit Lions, who has worn the line.
The Los Angeles–based clothing line is manufactured locally—allowing Mokhtar to remain hands-on from design to delivery.
“Having the factory so close to home has been a huge benefit, as it allows us to more effectively control the quality than you can with overseas production,” he said. “Even though it is more expensive than international manufacturing, it’s been one of the best decisions we made early on. It’s also important to create jobs domestically—and I can feel good about the fact that Uncl helps employ local Californians who work hard and produce amazing products.”
For more information about Uncl, contact Tony Soffe at tsoffe@frshund.com.
