The classic hoodie is a staple in just about anyone's closet. However, husband and wife design team, Mike Gonzalez and Christine Park-Gonzalez saw the potential for a more downtown, progressive take on the standard hooded sweatshirt for their MIKE & CHRIS hoodie line.
The Mike & Chris duo has created hoodies that reflect the art and sub-culture of their roots. Born in Queens, NY, Christine, has always been inspired by the arts while husband Mike pursued a career in fashion photography that eventually took him to New York and Paris. "Mike comes from a long line of artists and as a former photographer, his inherent understanding of how colors and the lines of clothes work really shaped a lot of the designs," says Christine. "We knew that the standard hoodie could be more fashion forward with the right detailing without sacrificing wearability or comfort". The design duo has managed to meld chic and street, resulting in a line that is both laid back yet put together.
The Mike & Chris hoodies are made with super soft fleece in antiqued colors; detailed with oversized buttons, antique brass eyelets, and unconventional styling. Expanding on the hoodie concept the designers also created leather hoodies made from soft lightweight lambskin lined with classic cotton men's shirtings and is hand treated resulting in a distressed texture on the skins. The duo has also introduced a line of leather & canvas utility bags for their Spring 2006 collection. "Christine and I grew up in the LA and NY of the late 70s and '80s. Our line is really inspired by that aesthetic," says Mike. Whether paired with jeans, slacks, or skirts, the MIKE&CHRIS hoodies exude a street sensibility with a sort of laid-back chic.
The line has been featured in Italian Vogue, Lucky and Jane magazine and has been worn by Nicole Kidman, Drew Barrymore, Mary J. Blige, Jessica Alba, Mena Suvari, Angelina Jolie and Lucy Liu among others.