Post by kaya on Mar 13, 2006 1:50:31 GMT -5
TUFF GONG CLOTHING
A Legacy
When one sounds the name Tuff Gong, it is hard not to conjure up a playful yet firm and noble musicality. In 1965, when Bob Marley established Tuff Gong International, he declared that one had to be “tuff” to survive in the Jamaican music business and referenced his nickname "The Gong", all in one. Fittingly, a gong was not only a resonating musical instrument but also a Duke in ancient Chinese history.
Tuff Gong grew to include a famed recording studio (whose mixing board in the studio is the same one used by Bob on all of his records). Now Tuff Gong has expanded to include tuff gong clothing, inspired by Bob Marley's sartorial legacy, owned by the family.
Tuff Gong Clothing, helmed by Marley scion, Rohan Marley, former Football Star, and his partner Stefano Aldighieri, carries on Marley's message with high quality clothing with a purpose. Appropriately enough, Aldighieri has worked in both music and fashion. In music, he operated a successful independent Record production and music publishing Company. In fashion, he held executive creative/design positions at 7 for all mankind and Levi Strauss & Co. The duo met through mutual friends. After realizing they share the same values and aspirations, the decision to create the collection came naturally.
Tuff Gong Clothing is made of the finest quality materials and labor in both the US and the EU. The introductory collection includes men’s denim, shirts, tees, athletic wear, and outerwear. The collection offers a range of styles such as “aged”, faded, and boot cut jeans, cargo pants, elbow patched, and snap button denim shirts, multi pocketed military style jackets and bombers, as well as easy-fit sweatpants and jerseys.
The color palette for Spring 2006 is military green, faded blue, white, yellow, green, khaki, and gold. Details include the embroidered lion, and the symbolic colors of red, gold, and green, which are used in the stitching of the garments. Jeans are broken down into three fits; easy, classic and legend. Unique to the jeans, rather than style numbers, Tuff Gong Clothing employs lyrics from Classic Marley songs such as “Sun is Shining”, "Hit me with Music”, and “Hope you like Jamming Too”.
“We wanted a timeless collection that reflects my father’s taste and style without compromising the beliefs he lived by”, says Marley. Aldighieri adds, “While the inspiration is clearly vintage Marley, the execution is a modern, contemporary line of high quality garments. We are more interested in Bob’s message than in the simple imagery”.
Tuff Gong Clothing Tuff Gong Clothing is available in stores such as Atrium, Fred Segal Santa Monica, and Bloomingdales as of November 2005.
Visit The Official Tuff Gong Website