Designer Alvin Valley is on the up! His creative and commercial success is indisputable… each of his fashion shows causes more of a buzz than the last, as evidenced by the constant and copious amounts of press coverage he receives from national magazines, newspapers, trade press, and TV stations.
Why so much hype? Since his New York debut, Alvin Valley he has developed a loyal following among Hollywood's A-List. His designs are increasingly in demand by celebrities such as Kate Winslet, Sharon Stone, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, Cher, Reese Witherspoon, Halle Berry, Britney Spears, Lara Flynn Boyle and Jennifer Lopez among many others. Alvin Valley has also become popular with New York socialites, cultivating admirers such as Samantha Boardman, Emilia and Lourdes Fanjul, Marisa Noel Brown, Alex Lind Rose, Celerie Kemble, Carolina Gutierrez, Helen Shifter and Lulu de Kwiatkowski.
Alvin Valley, "king of the pants" is taking New York City by storm. Since the launch of his Fall 2002 ready-to-wear collection, Alvin Valley has become an integral member of the vibrant fashion community and quite possibly the biggest small designer in New York City.
Valley admits that his clothes have strong appeal among wealthy female clients whose wardrobes consist of such designers as Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci, however he points out that "for the price of one pair of Prada pants, you can get two pairs of Alvin Valley." A pret-a-porter bargain! When compared to designer fashion's cream of the crop, Valley says of his pants, "We are not that unattainable." His clients are driven primarily by the fantastic fit of his clothing, their exceptional fabrics, and sophisticated yet cool lines. Valley himself grew up surrounded by sensual Latin women who used their sexiness as power-tools rather than as objects. His approach to design has no doubt been inspired by this notion of female empowerment and confidence that became familiar to him during his childhood.
Who is Alvin Valley? Cuban-American was born in New York City and raised in Seville, Spain. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater from the University of Miami and subsequently opened a Coconut Grove women's boutique. Known for his long-legged, low-slung pants with a belt-like leather strap around the waist that can make any woman look great, Alvin Valley developed a devoted cult following among Miami's young and hip. In 2000, he closed his shop in the Sunshine State and headed north, eager to make a brand new start in the Big Apple where he founded the Alvin Valley women's wear collection with Richard Rosenthal, a former bank president.
Alvin Valley's Collection can be found flying off the racks of 250 stores including such respected fashion boutiques and department stores as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Fred Segal, Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel, Scoop, Stanley Kurshak, Kirna Zabete, and Lane Crawford in China. Most buyers looking for pants put Alvin Valley in the top 10 "must buys". Valley says, " If they need pants, they come to me first."
Alvin Valley's ready-to-wear- collection has been described as a " retail sensation," yet another significant aspect of his business originates from his private clients in SOHO. Alvin Valley will create anything made-to-order, from a t-shirt to a bridal gown! Furthermore, in November 2002,Saks Fifth Avenue launched Alvin Valley's newest collection Valley Jeans. The line, with styles named for Zodiac signs, was initially inspired the cool California girl inside every woman while still personifying the urban sophistication of his New York signature collection. Valley was pleased with how his buyers immediately took to the jeans line. He says, "Every store that carried Alvin Valley bought "Valley Jeans."
The young designer is humble, yet admits to big ideas for his future, including opening his own stores, creating a variety of licensing agreements and expanding into men's clothing. Valley describes his partner Richard Rosenthal to be financially conservative yet he says of the whole team behind Alvin Valley," we are aggressive." Is Alvin Valley just a name of the moment? The answer is no. Valley makes it clear that his company "is here to stay".
Coming off the huge success of the his recent Fall 2005 collection showing during New York's Fashion Week, Alvin Valley will be presenting his Oscar Collection of dresses for celebrity clientele in his couture suite at The Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills from Wednesday, February 23rd until Sunday, February 27th. Alvin Valley will be offering full preparation services in collaboration with renowned hairstlylist, Ricardo Rojas of New York, Bobbi Brown's make-up team, and David Webb precious jewelry.
