Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexander Zar.
Hi Alexander, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m an immigrant. I came to America by way of Italy, where I landed as a 19 years old boy with a lot of energy and hope. I spent years in Italy learning the craft of hand-made fine leather goods and beginning to understand that not only did I love the trade, I enjoyed fashion, I understood trends and I could make a living in the industry.
In the states as a young man, I started out with retail stores and eventually got into manufacturing. I started small with repairs and some local clients who were designers wanting to establish a brand. My quality was great so word of mouth grew our customer base quickly. Soon I had bigger brand names wanting to produce their lines of shoe and handbag sampling and production with my atelier so I organically just expanded and grew until I looked up and realized I have a factory.
When COVID hit, all that went out the window – overnight. There was no expectation of great fashion sales, stores and malls were closing down, people weren’t working and there was an expectation that purchasing power would dry up and hard times would settle in. I was very uneasy and didn’t know how we’d survive – both personally and as a business.
One day as supply chains were drying up and orders were drawing down, my wife said, you have patternmakers and sewing machines, why don’t you make masks… and that gave rise to my entry into the PPE market. When I started making protective gowns in LA out of polypropylene material, no one could understand what I was doing or why I was willing to invest in this. I remember I was on KCRW and I said, “our nation needs us,” and that manufacturers had to step up to the task as a matter of national security.
And so it began, our entry to the PPE business and our exposure to the medical wearables market.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not smooth – nothing worth attaining ever is! My exodus from my revolution ravaged country to Italy wasn’t easy by land, finding my way with little language skills or money was tough. Building a manufacturing business in the States, where manufacturing is leaving and in CA especially where regulations make it tough to survive hasn’t been easy. But it’s been rewarding, as I look back, and I’m increasingly proud of my journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love the creativity that goes into creation. Whether it’s fashion or utility, there’s some ingenuity that goes into a successful creative outcome, and I love that challenge. I like being innovative in design and masterful in production so as to set myself, my company and our clients apart from the rest. I think – I hope – I’m succeeding…
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My entire team – my entire factory floor from my section managers who really push themselves to be innovative and productive, to my office staff who is tireless, to even my newest hires who come onboard with great ideas and enthusiasm and prowl us forward – everyone around me, up and down this place we call Lala Land Design, deserves credit.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.lalaland-design.com
- Instagram: Lalaland PPE
- Facebook: lalaland
