Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank Mechaly and David Mathey.
Hi Frank and David, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
(Frank Mechaly) I started to work in Marseille, France at a flea market selling second-hand Levi’s 501 jeans at the age of 16 after leaving school. Three years later, I began designing denim lines for European brands. I was based in St. Tropez and would travel every other week to Marseille, Paris, and Bordeaux to visit my clients. The other part of my time was spent either in Tunisia or Morocco where I was producing samples and doing the bulk of production for my clients.
In 2003, I moved to Los Angeles and founded 575 Denim. The brand’s success was huge, however, due to a trademark lawsuit the company was shut down.
(David Mathey) I started to get involved in the fashion and denim industries when I was 13 years old. I would bargain hunt military surplus stores and purchase great finds and then put my own special touch on it by adding patches, pins, and embroidery. Soon I was selling these reimagined pieces to classmates and a few local boutiques in Marseille.
I moved to the United States when I was 14 to join my brother, Frank, and finish high school. While other kids were in school studying, I was selling jeans and t-shirts out of the trunk of my car. Unfortunately, the family business was not as strong as before so I had to work hard to make ends meet. After a few months of selling denim to my classmates and teachers, I had to find new buyers to keep the business going and went door to door to different stores trying to make money. It was a struggle but, the hard times built up my character and it also made me realize how tough and intricate the business really was.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
(Frank Mechaly) Rockstar Original really took off in late 2014 and has grown two-fold every year since. However, the success of the brand did not come cheaply or easily. As with any company and business venture, our accomplishments were the product of a number of things: being at the right place at the right time, selling to the ideal consumer, trial and error, and long hours.
(David Mathey) In 2008 my brother and I launched Rockstar Original. We would design the line together while I ran the local production and Frank handled sales. The first eight years of the business were very challenging financially and we had to be really creative to just stay in business.
As Frank said, success finally came in 2014 after years of struggle and constantly trying new ways to stay ahead of the competition. We discovered that the streetwear market was our key demographic and were immediately embraced by it. We became known for our moto jeans and tracksuits that were sold in over 300 stores overnight. In 2019 the industry shift to e-commerce forced us to evolve again, this time to a direct-to-consumer business model.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
(Frank Mechaly) My brother, David, and I are Co-Founders of Rockstar Original. He handles the e-commerce and marketing side of things while I’m more involved with product development, merchandising and production. At Rockstar Original, we are known for our streetwear style and constantly drop hundreds of new looks every month. Our product has to be up to date with the latest trends happening in the hip-hop/rap music world.
Both of us are behind every single style we drop, making sure that everything from the fit, fabric, hardware and embellishments are aligned with the brand DNA. Rockstar Original is loud and has a lot of personality, you can instantly recognize one of our iconic jackets and track sets. This is something we’re really proud of.
(David Mathey) We are a fast fashion brand, but we design and manufacture every single item. E-commerce has been a real game-changer for us. The volume of sales is huge, we don’t rely on retailers anymore, we control the entire distribution, price point, and assortment. It’s like having 500 storefronts with 24/7 foot traffic and no rent.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
(Frank Mechaly) We came from a family that was deeply rooted in the fashion and motosport industries. We have a profound admiration for fashion, namely jeans and car racing. We still race cars together a few times a year, David just recently raced in Daytona, FL.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rockstaroriginal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockstardenimusa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockstaroriginalUSA/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClWohdi89VnFoqii43YNUUA
