Brian Lichtenberg

Brian Lichtenberg
Residence Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality American
Occupation Fashion designer
Labels Brian Lichtenberg, BLTEE

Brian Lichtenberg is a Florida-born American fashion designer based in Los Angeles, California.[1][2] He is the founder-creator of the label Brian Lichtenberg, and the streetwear brand BLTEE.[3]

Career

Lichtenberg began designing in summer 2000.[3] His clothes are sold through specialty boutiques and top department stores in Los Angeles, London, Paris and Milan.[2]

In September 2013 he made his first New York Fashion Week presentation at Pier 59 for his Spring-Summer 2014 collection.[4] His second presentation was held on 9 February 2014 at The Hub, in The Hudson Hotel.[5]

Parody sportswear

In 2006, Lichtenberg designed the "BRIANEL No. 1" T-shirt, the first a line of T-shirts, sweatshirts and other sportswear garments bearing logos that parodied those of major established brands such as Chanel (Brianel), Balmain (Ballin), and Hermès (Homiès).[6] They have been seen on celebrities such as Rihanna,[7] and Miley Cyrus.[8]

In 2013, Lichtenberg designed a line of sweatshirts similar to American football jerseys for the Los-Angeles based boutique Kitson, but with the names of pharmaceutical drugs "Adderall", "Vicodin" and "Xanax" across the backs at shoulder level with a two-digit-number.[9] They were advertised with the slogan "Pop one on and you'll feel better, just what the doctor ordered", and were criticised for trivializing prescription drug abuse and mental illness.[9][10] The drug companies also threatened to sue unless the shirts were taken off the market, and the Partnership at Drugfree.org charity released a statement disassociating themselves from the line and refusing to accept any direct donations of funds raised through the shirt sales.[11][12]

Lichtenberg released a statement saying:

I have created a collection of t-shirts that are a parody of pop culture. This particular collection of prescription tee's is simply a commentary on what I see happening in our society. Call it what you may, but art in all forms is created off of pop culture and the social situations that surround it. A large percentage of Americans are prescribed these drugs by doctors everyday for legitimate reasons . These are not illegal substances. These tee's are not meant to encourage prescription drug abuse, but if they open the door to a much needed dialogue, as they seem to be doing now, then mission accomplished.[13]

Performance costumes

Lichtenberg has worked closely with a number of singers and rappers on their performance attire. Among his best known designs are Lady Gaga's crime scene tape outfit for the music video to Telephone,[14] and Katy Perry's scuba-inspired 'Freakum' dress from 3OH!3's Starstrukk video.[15] His hologrammatic leggings became a signature stage look for the rapper M.I.A. at the time of her successful 2007 song Paper Planes. At one point M.I.A. was wearing his designs almost exclusively.[14] Other singers who have worked with him for their performance costumes include Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj,[14] and he counts Kanye West, Peaches, Ciara, Yelle, Ke$ha and Keri Hilson among his clients.[15] His more mainstream designs, including one-shouldered minidresses, have been worn by celebrities such as Shakira, Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian.[14]

Lawsuit

In September 2013, Lichtenberg filed a US$100 million lawsuit in Federal Court in Los Angeles against his brother Christopher and other parties, alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition and defamation among other claims.[16] In reporting on the lawsuit, Vanity Fair described Lichtenberg as "sort of like the Weird Al Yankovic of fashion designers".[17]

References

  1. ↑ Tovey, Emma-Louise (20 September 2012). "No One Designs in L.A.? Brian Lichtenberg Does". Hint Magazine. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Biography of Brian Lichtenberg". Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Brian Lichtenberg Talks About the HOMIES Collection and His Thoughts On Streetwear". Hypebeast.com. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "Brian Lichtenberg MBFW New York Spring 2014". Fashion One. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  5. ↑ Tschorn, Adam (9 February 2014). "N.Y. Fashion Week: Brian Lichtenberg goes motocross grunge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  6. ↑ Leung, Monica (23 August 2013). "The rise of the BLTees – but what's next for Brian Lichtenberg?". Influxxx Magazine. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  7. ↑ Fitzmaurice, Sarah (27 February 2013). "Going for that just rolled out of bed look! Rihanna home from club in just a jumper as beau Chris Brown doesn't bother to do up his shirt". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  8. ↑ Darwin, Liza (2 January 2013). "Miley Cyrus Wears A Faux Fashion Brian Lichtenberg Sweatshirt". MTV Style. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  9. 1 2 Taylor, Victoria (29 August 2013). "Drugmakers may sue L.A. boutique over Adderall, Vicodin, Xanax T-shirts". New York Daily News. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  10. ↑ Kamali, Sarah (30 August 2013). "One Slogan T-Shirt Too Far?". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  11. ↑ "The Latest in Fashion Trademark Issues: T-Shirts Featuring Prescription Drug Names". Corsearch. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  12. ↑ Goldberg, Cassie. "STATEMENT: The Partnership at Drugfree.org is Not Associated With Kitson's Rx Drug T-Shirts". The Partnership at Drugfree.org. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  13. ↑ Stieber, Zachary (28 August 2013). "Kitson LA and Brian Lichtenberg 'Designer Drugs Collection' Shirts Spark Outrage". The Epoch Times. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Lecaro, Lina (28 July 2011). "Brian Lichtenberg: Diva Duds". LA Weekly. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  15. 1 2 Nika, Colleen (22 December 2011). "Brian Lichtenberg's Fantastic Plastic Christmas". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  16. ↑ Warmerdam, Elizabeth (September 19, 2013). "Designer Brothers Feud Over 'Ballin' T-Shirts". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  17. ↑ Duboff, Josh (September 26, 2013). "Fashion Designer Sues His Brother For Allegedly Stealing His Idea, Accuses Him Of Having Alter Ego". Vanity Fair. Retrieved February 20, 2014.

External links

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