Frank Mechaly
Frank Mechaly | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 9, 1975 |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
Frank Mechaly (born May 9, 1975) is a French jeans designer and brand maker, specializing in premium denim.[1] Though he has successfully launched a number of brands including Sacred Blue.[2][3] He is known as the founder and creator of 575 DENIM [4]which has been embraced by celebrities such as Cameron Diaz[5] who made a point of publicly acknowledging her affinity for the jeans during an appearance on Saturday Night Live. Mechaly launched Rockstar Original prior in 2008.[6]
Biography
At age 15, Frank quit school and at 16 moved to St. Tropez, where he began to work in retail clothing stores as a sales person.[7] He soon moved on to buying vintage clothing, especially vintage Levis and reselling for a profit.[8] Eventually this developed into the opening of his own vintage store. Every week he took a train to Rouen to purchase several large bagfuls of jeans, military issue shirts and football jerseys, which he then washed, repaired and resold.[9]
Career
RockStar Original
Frank Mechaly's next project was to launch his new brand "Rockstar".[10]
575 DENIM
The first year that 575 DENIM brand launched, it was immensely successful.[11] It was embraced by celebrities and particularly noted when actress[12] Cameron Diaz, who was never paid for any endorsements, actually went to stores requesting to buy 575 DENIM and then wearing them at red carpet events and during her Saturday Night Live appearance.[13] The brand was anticipated to have continued success when towards the end of 2004 they were sued by Levi Strauss & Co.[14]
LEVI STRAUSS & Co. vs. Frank Mechaly
Levi Strauss filed civil case number C 06 2402 against Frank Mechaly and his Jeanius Corporation because they felt that the 575 DENIM brand was infringing upon their 500 series jeans.[15] Mechaly claimed that he never had any intention of doing that and that the brand was inspired by his birthday, which was on May 9, 1975 (5-75) and that he had simply wanted to stand out by using a number rather than a word or letters like most other brands.[16] Levi Strauss won the case, which resulted in 575 eventually closing and laying off their 300 employees.[17]
References
- ↑ Staff, W. W. D. (December 13, 2007). "Blue Cult Lowers Price for Return to U.S." WWD. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ Staff, W. W. D. (October 23, 2003). "Denim Dish: Blue Genes". WWD. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ Staff – "Franck Mechaly: Mister Jeans" (Elle Magazine, French version, pg 35, July 31, 2006)
- ↑ Barajas, Erin. "Blue Cult Shakeup Continues". www.apparelnews.net. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Cameron Diaz Wore the Best-Selling Jeans on Shopbop and Revolve With Flip-Flops". Who What Wear. October 1, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Rockstar Original". Hawke Media. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ Marsh, Emilie (May 24, 2007). "Marseille Builds on Denim Legacy". WWD. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ Tran, Khanh T. L. (December 13, 2007). "Blue Cult Lowers Price for Return to U.S." WWD. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ CoutureCandy.com | Fashion Designer Biography of 575 DENIM
- ↑ Yeo, Kai (July 29, 2021). "Rockstar Original – DTLA Headquarters". 360 MAGAZINE - GREEN | DESIGN | POP | NEWS. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ Padilla, Max – "Lucky Numbers" (Sportswear News, Issue #9, pg 40, 2006)
- ↑ Staff – "Behind the Seams with Cameron Diaz" (People Magazine, April 15, 2007)
- ↑ "Sacred Blue Adds European Flair to Denim". www.apparelnews.net. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Souvenir des années 1980, le jean serré fait son retour". Le Monde.fr (in French). Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ Staff, W. W. D. (May 25, 2006). "The Life of the Perfect Fit". WWD. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ "MAY 75". Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
- ↑ Tran, Ross Tucker,Khanh T. L. (September 17, 2009). "New Denim Players See Opportunity". WWD. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)