You may recall us talking about Five Four and the sweet, sweet, sweetness that is their jacket collection. Yes, we are quite taken. The thing is, the jackets are just part of what Five Four has to offer. They make shirts, denim, sweatshirts (if you can call them that- they're way nice), shorts, and a backpack that is favored by one Megan Fox. They even have a women's line in the works and some cool home living items as well.

Why take our word for it. Here's what you need to know from Five Four's co-founder and designer Mr. Andres Izquieta:

StyleList: What is Five Four, how did it come about, and what does it mean to you?

Andres: Five Four is a modern American lifestyle brand. It was started in 2002 in my senior year of college as our business plan, along with my business partner Dee Murthy.

Initially, when I started the brand, I knew I wanted to start something that represented myself and my lifestyle. In turn, I was creating something that represented my generation. Dee and I were born in 1980 and I feel it is time for a new modern American brand. As Five Four has transitioned through the years its aesthetic, from the clothes to the lifestyle, represents a modern sophistication. I've always personally strived to be successful in everything I do while at the same time aspiring for the good life.

The brand is constantly evolving alongside my personal growth, and one thing that has had a big impact on the brand is travel and culture. My parents were born in Ecuador and their family roots stem from Spain and Lebanon. I was born in Los Angeles and grew up stateside, though in my home I was exposed to a different culture, yet when I stepped outside I was back to American culture, that melting pot of race, religion, orientation which makes this place the best country in the world. Over the last few years due to my work, I have been fortunate enough to experience and travel to so many different places. I have always appreciated the experiences from the villages in India to the rural roads of China to the bustling streets of Tokyo to the cafes in Paris and the subways in New York. All of my travels have shaped my appreciation for various cultures, which in turn has shaped and defined the culture of Five Four.

Five Four today is the new face of American fashion, one with a global influence but with a domestic patriotism, truly what America is all about.

The definition of Five Four is one, symbolizing one world, one love, simply put...one. All of these factors have guided Five Four into its own unique being, that is different from all...one.


SL: What sets Five Four apart from other men's clothing companies?

Andres: Five Four is different in many ways. From a design perspective, its designs are modern and the fabrics are sophisticated, blending a unique design that lends the brand a distinctive identity. The fit of the brand is more on the American side, versus the typical fit of European cut clothing. The price points are attainable, which in this market is very important. The value that you get in our product is not comparable; you can get fashion, fit at an attainable price which ultimately is a winning combination. Another important thing is that a lot of the pieces can be dressed up or down, which is something to me that is very important. Being able to be casual during the day, but dressy at night is key, and the looks that we provide allow one to do that.

One of my main goals with Five Four, is to elevate the style of the American man. Throughout all my travels in the world, I've noticed that European and Japanese men have a stellar sense of style. From rich to middle to lower class, I've seen great style from so many different people in these places. I feel that the average American guy doesn't care about his personal style, which is what one of Five Four's main goals is, to raise the image and style of the American man. By providing a great stylish product that is aspirational yet attainable, we are poised to accomplish this. I know it's a hard far fetched goal, but over time we can change the landscape of how American men dress in this country. My generation has grown in the digital age, we think differently and act different from our predecessors, we are starting to care more about how we look due to the increased accessibility of information via the web and other new forms of media. It's now a lot easier to find ways to be more stylish, as opposed to 20 years ago. The bottom line is that a lot of guys need help on how to be fashionable, and in this day and age, we aim to make it easier on them; if we can inspire more men to dress better and elevate their personal style, then American men can be perceived as fashionable.


SL: Your style is very progressive and modern, but elements of the classics do come through. How important is it for you to include that balance?

Andres: This is critical. This is essentially what the brand's product is all about. It's something that can be worn today or 5 years from today while still looking relevant and fashionable. Growing up, I went to private school, where we had to dress in collared shirts every day. The clothes I bought had to be able to be worn throughout the year and even past the school year into the following. That mentality stuck with me. Nothing we do is trendy or relevant to today's fashion trends; it's modern yet classic and can be kept forever. Achieving this balance for me is key in everything I do. Also, I think the consumer appreciates this because they can hold on to something for a long time. When I'm shopping for any product, I always try to find this combination because I interpret it as the greatest value.


SL: We have heard that 2009 may see a Five Four women's line. Will you be designing it?

Andres: It is slated for a release of Fall 2010 as of now, and yes, I will be designing it. The look of the women's line will be similar in aesthetic to that of the mens, which I feel will translate very well into the womens market. I'm very excited for the release of our womens line.


SL: It seems that you've moved naturally into an active web presence. How big of a tool is the internet for Five Four?

Andres: The internet is the biggest tool we have. Having an active web presence is critical, as information these days goes by the second, and accessibility is key. We have spent and are continuously spending a lot of our time and efforts to the web, and further developing and expanding how the web reaches our consumers. When a brand has a lean advertising budget, the web becomes more critical as it's an only means of communication with consumers.


SL: You have all kinds of great media on your site. What's the story with FFTV, and the Five Four Project? (BTW, Sinnerman- great song!)

Andres: FFTV and FF Project are connected. TV is a medium in which we can showcase any special forms of video we may that are relevant to the brand. The FF Project has been one of the most important projects we have conducted to date.

The Five Four Project was something that came up out of the blue. We wanted to create something that was organic, let people know Five Four exists and create some social chaos. It was the most fun I've ever had in a 12 hour span, the adrenaline that pumped through everybody was unbelievable as we went from location to location. The concept stemmed from one of my favorite movies, The Thomas Crown Affair. At the end of the film, there's a scene where there are over 50 men all dressed alike in a museum which create mass confusion to the people around them and the people that are chasing them. All the guys in the Five Four video were wearing raw Five Four denim, a shiny military esque style black jacket (white jacket at night) and white shoes, along with sunglasses. We wanted to go to some of the locations that are the most trafficked and highly visible in Los Angeles and recreate the same chaos. All in all, the project created a lot of buzz to the brand and much chaos wherever we hit that given day. And yes, the song chosen was the classic Nina Simone song of "Sinnerman" that also played in that scene in Thomas Crown Affair.


SL: What can you tell us about Five Four Living?

Andres: Five Four recently teamed up with a real estate development company that develops properties in the USC area and provides student housing. The concept that was created was Five Four Living, an ultra modern and sophisticated living experience for those college students looking for something more along the lines of hotel living vs. traditional student housing. The first project on tap is the remodeling of a California craftsman home by USC area. The project is symbolic because both Dee and myself went to USC, so it felt very personal. We were both roommates our senior year in a similar type of home a few blocks away from the one we are revamping. The long term strategy with Five Four Living is to simulate this concept across other student housing markets, and into regular residential properties and hotels. FF Living is also developing a second property launching in Fall 2009 in the USC area and we're in talks with other developers and hoteliers to roll out this concept to new platforms.


SL: Thank you very much, Andres. Happy holidays!


We told you that Andres would say it better than we could- or we implied it anyway.

Five Four is moving fast- you better catch it!



Holiday shipping is available through 12/23!