California Apparel News

Now that denim maker True Religion has been sold to an investment management firm, there is still some executive shuffling going on.

The company, based in Vernon, Calif., has appointed Gary Harvey to be its creative director, a post previously held by company founder Jeff Lubell.

Harvey, who was Levi Strauss & Co.’s creative director in Europe for five years until 2005, will report to Lynne Koplin, chief merchandising officer.

David Conn, the new chief executive officer of True Religion, said Harvey has a real understanding of premium denim. “Gary’s inspiring vision will bring an exciting, fresh perspective on the creative direction we need to help our brand evolve into the future,” Conn said.

Harvey has spent the last eight years as the owner and creative director of GaryHarveyCreative, his own creative consultancy in London. His company has worked with Adidas, Chanel, Diesel, DKNY, Levi’s, Nike and Revlon.

“Gary has a depth of experience in the denim and apparel industries, along with an impressive talent for both men’s and women’s design,” Koplin said.

True Religion was sold in July to TowerBrook Capital Partners for $824 million. One of the first things the New York– and London-based investment management firm did was to name David Conn as the new chief executive.

Conn was president of VF Corp.’s retail licensed brand groups. Koplin, who had been interim CEO at True Religion, became the company’s chief merchandising officer. Eric Bauer, formerly chief operating officer of Children’s Place retail stores, became the new chief operating officer and chief financial officer. Pete Collins, True Religion’s chief financial officer for the past six years, retired.

True Religion was founded in 2002 by Jeff Lubell and his ex-wife, Kym Lubell. In March, Jeff Lubell left the company as its chairman, chief executive officer and creative director. This was two months before the TowerBrook Capital deal was announced.

In a separation agreement, Jeff Lubell received $5.1 million in severance pay, the vesting in full of certain unvested restricted stock and other benefits. He also has a deal to consult for the company for two years for $1 million a year. Kym Lubell left True Religion several years ago.

True Religion started out making premium-denim jeans and expanded into lifestyle clothing and retailing. At the end of June, the company operated 130 stores in the United States and had more than 33 international stores.

True Religion has grown rapidly over the years. Most recently, the company had a $46 million profit on $467.3 million in sales in 2012.