From: ASAP
The Award-winning Roberto Robledo Clothing Company brand name and approximately 2,000 clothing design patterns are available for sale and license. Established in 1982, the San Francisco-based Roberto Robledo Company designed contemporary clothing for men and women. Roberto Robledo thrived with strong national distribution through Nordstrom, Bonwit Teller, Macys, Bloomingdales and other leading department stores and fashion apparel boutiques, until mid-2003, when the principle partner retired.
With the resurgence and interest in 80’s club clothing gaining momentum, with peak interest is still years away, combined with Robledo’s architecturally-designed timeless fashions, this a highly-lucrative opportunity for a savvy clothing manufacturer that wishes to quickly and dramatically broaden their product offering and increase sales.
With his spirited and unexpected approach to design, Roberto Robledo, who passed away in mid-1992, brought a new excitement to contemporary American sportswear during his short, yet impactive, fashion design career. Not only did his work help to establish San Francisco as a growing West Coast design center during the 80’s, but Roberto was also a leading influential participant in the development of California’s Contemporary identity.
In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, Roberto’s pioneering design concepts were based upon the use of industrial fabrics and design and modernistic dressing that translated into casual streetwear fashions for men and women. Roberto was one of, if not the very first, clothing designer to incorporate innovative, brightly-colored fabrics, like Tyvek, Polyurethane, ScotchLight, rubber, and Lycra-based products, featuring large industrial zippers, metal, grommets, snaps, and Velcro - elements no other designer had prioritized as fashion elements.
Roberto’s unique designs and very advanced fashion sportswear, that bordered on “Club Scene”, “Punk”, and “New Wave”, were so extraordinary, the influence of his styles literally changed fashion and revolutionized the fashion industry. Innovative and daring, Robledo’s designs received national acclaim and recognition and his nylon parachute jumpsuit, which was to become a Robledo trademark, vaulted him into the public eye. Roberto Robledo’s unique designs were worn by numerous video artists during MTV’s early 80’s heyday, including Cindy Lauper, The Thompson Twins, Joan Jett, Madonna, Klaus Nomi, and countless actresses such as Sophia Loren and Julie Newmar.
After relocating from New York City to San Francisco in 1982, Roberto’s direction changed to architectural design concepts using geometric lines and shapes to create modern, day-to-day clothing with multiple functions that were softer, cleaner, and more comprehensible in look. This was in part to his fabric choices. Heavy nylon and dazzle were replaced by luxurious fabrics of all natural fibers such as silk crepe de chine, silk broadcloth, silk and wool, and subtle brushed cottons. Roberto quickly developed a reputation for transforming traditional fabrics into updated, defined silhouettes with superb attention to detail and construction. Additionally, Roberto Robledo was the originator of the Funnel Neck, as well as the Bandit Neck design feature, a brilliantly simple design element that could be fashioned into five unique, functional looks. Roberto’s versatility was evident in the range of his designs – from the clean and modern to the body-conscious and trendy.
A leader in San Francisco’s fashion industry and a California fashion design star with a national reputation, Roberto was nominated for the California Apparel Mart’s “Marty” award in both 1985 and 1986. San Francisco Focus Magazine awarded Roberto their “Golden Shears” award for design excellence twice, added him to their Best Dressed List in 1986 and in 1987; he was installed in their Hall of Fame.
Clothing manufacturers interested in learning more about this unique opportunity are invited to contact Roberto Robledo’s representative, Christopher Buttner at chris@prthatrocks.com or tel: 415-381-8647
Posted June 2005
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