here are some things that just shouldn't be resurrected. Take the 1980s, for example. A decade that certainly can't be described as subtle, it was filled with neon shoelaces, Hammer pants and acid-washed everything. There was even a time when you couldn't walk down the hallway at school without spotting a sunglass-wearing bulldog logo blazed across any article of clothing. Or anything else, it seemed.
From running shoes to barbeque sauce to chicken strips, Chip and Pepper Foster, the twins behind the popular symbol, were somehow involved. They even had their own Saturday morning cartoon show. Then the decade came to an end, and it seemed that the twins would follow suit. But they refused to fade away, and were determined to make a fresh start.
Stretched to the max and lacking direction, Chip and Pepper decided to take a break from the fashion world. Dabbling in various extreme sports and enjoying the sunny California climate, the duo wanted their return to the industry to be completely different. They opened the famous Golf Punk vintage specialty store on Melrose Place in Los Angeles, and focused their attention not on tie dye and oversized shorts, but on developing high- quality denim. It's hand-crafted with individual details that set them apart from other labels, and manufactured in mills that were originally used by Levi's in the 1900's. This process gives it that oh-so-chic extra-vintage quality that's a must-have for every fashion fanatic.
"It has a true vintage feel to it. Our denim may stand out among other jeans on the market today, but if you put a pair of Chip and Pepper jeans in a pile of vintage denim you could never tell which was ours," says Chip. Adds Pepper, "From the start we wanted to recreate the look and feel of vintage denim with more modern cuts to fit today's style."
Their fashion roots began as teenagers growing up in Burlington, Ontario. They had been designing shirts and shorts for fun until Chip fell victim to a scam artist. "I saw an ad for these awesome sneakers. I made a brochure and brought it around school taking orders and collecting money," says Chip. "I sold $5,000 worth of these shoes and after I sent the money in I never heard back!" Finding themselves in a bind and owing quite a chunk of cash to their friends, the twins decided to sell their designs and have never looked back.
Once sought-after by the adolescent crowd, Chip and Pepper's denim can now be spotted in high-end boutiques around the globe and on celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, the girls from the O.C, Colin Farrell and Beyoncé. Sportswear International recently tipped their hats to the twins by naming them the winner of Best Men's Denim in the 2005 SIFA Awards – think swanky awards show for clothing.
The sense of humour and enormous amount of energy the duo possessed in the 80s certainly hasn't waned over the years. When asked what each of them brings to the label, Chip declares, "Well, I definitely bring the looks. We may be twins, but I am the better looking of the two." With slight exasperation, Pepper clarifies the question, and Chip explains that as they're both literally the names behind the label, they share the responsibility to be "in the loop" about everything. Chip devotes more attention to designing, while business and numbers are right up Pepper's alley.
Even though Chip leaves the financial side to his brother, he's quick to point out his admiration for a very successful businessman. Trump, you say? Think again. "I always wonder what Gene Simmons would do in certain situations...because people don't realize it, but Gene is an incredible businessman," says Chip. Pepper tries to cut him off, but his brother continues. "He is a marketing genius, a very smart man...the band became as huge as it is because of Gene. He is the brains behind everything."
Besides being enamored with KISS (or perhaps just Gene), the twins have tapped into a fashion goldmine with their figure-flattering designs and keen prediction of trends. Their Sorority Girl jeans epitomize the relaxed beach culture that they love, while High Maintenance's cropped, faded denim gives you the feeling of summer, all year long. For the adventurous types, Walk of Shame's for you. With the lowest rise on the market, these jeans are sure to attract attention – just take it easy when you bend down to pick up that quarter on the sidewalk. Looking for something a little more sophisticated? Gilhart has a martini glass etched on the back pocket with special chain-stitched CP embroidery, so you can show some class on your derriere.
Having been resurrected from the 80s themselves, we just had to know if there was anything they'd like to see on the runways again. "I was dying to see white denim, '80s Heather Locklear-style. I am so glad that came back. I hope frosted pink lipstick comes back soon too," says Chip. "Tie dye!" exclaims Pepper. "I want to see some tie dye, like the old school Chip and Pepper T-shirts, '87 issue!" Here's hoping the tie dye stays where it belongs. Ditto to the white denim.
The 30-something twins look like they'd be more at home hitting the waves with a surfboard rather than tackling the fashion world, but looks can be deceiving. With more than two decades in the industry, these brothers have experienced highs and lows and completely overhauled the direction of their label, all while maintaining a good sense of humour and positive attitude. So would they change anything if they could? "No, not at all. It's been a fantastic journey," says Pepper. Chip agrees, adding he'd even eat the cans of beef-a-roni they consumed during their leaner years. "Everything we have done, every road we have traveled has led us to where we are today."
We spoke with Chip and Pepper about everything from their early days of tie dye and eating beef-a-roni, their business role models and what makes their denim such a hot commodity these days.
HILARY Magazine: What do each of you bring to the label?
Chip: Well, I definitely bring the looks. We may be twins, but I am the better looking of the two.
Pepper: Chip, I think they mean roles and responsibilities. No one wants to know that you get facials to keep your skin soft.
Chip: Oh, sorry. Right. Well, we both are involved with literally every aspect of the business. It is our names, we have a responsibility to be in the loop with everything. But for big picture direction, I am more involved with design.
Pepper: And overall, I handle the business side. I am better with numbers.
Chip: But I can count to one hundred in Japanese!
Pepper: Next question!
What inspired you to pursue fashion as a career?
Pepper: Basically, Chip got scammed and owed all our friends $5,000 and we needed a way to earn some money fast. So we started selling clothes.
Chip: No, Pep – there is so much more to that story. You left so much out!
Pepper: But Chip, you take way too long to tell the story. I give the condensed version.
Chip: I don't care, I am telling the long version. So basically when I was in high school I saw an ad for these awesome sneakers. I made a brochure and brought it around school taking orders and collecting money. I sold $5,000 worth of these shoes and after I sent the money in I never heard back!
Pepper: The guy completely disappeared! He had his phone disconnected and everything!
Chip: Before that we were making our own shirts and shorts for fun and everyone liked them anyway, so we figured we would try and make some money off them since we were in a pinch.
Pepper: And that is how we got stated in the fashion industry. True story. Crazy, eh?
What have you learnt from your past experiences?
Pepper: A lot. We try to learn from both the positive and the negative. I definitely have learned not to take anything for granted.
Chip: Definitely. And to just enjoy the ride. We have the greatest gig, we just have fun with it.
Pepper: I also learned to keep your enemies close. It may sound cliché, but it is true.
Chip: I bet Gene Simmons would say that. We just met Gene Simmons from KISS, and he is a smart businessman.
Pepper: Chip...
Chip: He is my new Yoda.
Pepper: Chip!
Chip: I always wonder what Gene Simmons would do in certain situations.
Pepper: Oh boy...
Chip: Because people don't realize it, but Gene is an incredible businessman. He is a marketing genius, a very smart man.
Pepper: (Whispering) Here comes the part about Gene being the brains behind KISS
Chip: Gene made KISS what it is. The band became as huge as it is because of Gene. He is the brains behind everything.
Pepper: (Laughing) Chip, I'm laughing my guts out here. You are too funny!
Chip: Why, Pep? I am serious. Gene is an amazing man and he should get all the credit he deserves.
Pepper: I agree, Gene is awesome – but let's focus here. Next question!
What makes your denim stand out in the crowd?
Chip: It has a true vintage feel to it. Our denim may stand out among other jeans on the market today, but if you put a pair of Chip and Pepper jeans in a pile of vintage denim you could never tell which was ours.
Pepper: From the start we wanted to recreate the look and feel of vintage denim with more modern cuts to fit today's styles.
If you could go back to when you first started, would you do anything differently?
Pepper: No, not at all. It's been a fantastic journey.
Chip: No way, even the beef-a-roni we had to eat out of cans during the lean years. Everything we have done, every road we have traveled has led us to where we are today.
Pepper: Exactly. And because of that I wouldn't change a thing. But no more beef-a-roni!
Your denim has a real vintage feel to it. Are there any fashion trends from the past that you'd like to resurrect?
Chip: I was dying to see white denim, '80s Heather Locklear style. I am so glad that came back. I hope frosted pink lipstick comes back soon too.
Pepper: Tie dye! I want to see some tie dye, like the old school Chip and Pepper T-shirts, '87 issue!
Do you think being Canadian gives your business an advantage?
Pepper: No. I think being a hard worker gives your business an advantage.
Chip: I like that, Pep. That was nice.
Check Chip and Pepper out online at www.ChipAndPepper.com
Shan Swimwear
