Catching Up With The CEO Of Kikwear Industries

Here we go again, a trip into the inner workings of Kikwear, Inc. Things are going great for the company and our fan base is growing bigger every day. I recently got to Interview the CEO Alex Berenson to see how things are going with the company, the support teams and most importantly our fans.

Inkkie: It's been several months now since the Kikwear re-launch, how are things going for the company? Anything we should be getting excited to see coming down the line?

Alex: Since our Kikwear brand re-launch in December of 2012, the goal has been getting the brand name back out there into the forefront of the EDM community. The old skool fans are stoked to have us back, and the goal for Team Kikwear has been to educate the new generation of ravers about our iconic standing in the scene. Of course, the most important element here is the gear and everyone buying it at www.KIKWEAR.com is supremely psyched when their order arrives! The line is still young in its development which is brand new to literally thousands of ravers around the world so we need to keep up with our guerrilla marketing approach which is working very well. There are a lot of epic new styles in the Kikwear pipeline which will continue to roll out through 2013 and into 2014 as well. 

Inkkie:  How are things going with the Kikgirl line relaunch? When can we expect to see the line available and what can we expect to see offered?

Alex: The Kikgirl reboot is coming, however it has taken longer than anticipated due to the nature of the production for a girl's line. Everything has to be perfect with the fit, trims and style line details. We aren't dropping it on Kikwear.com until we're 100% satisfied, but the wait will be well worth it. The initial line will consist of pants, skirts, tops and accessories. Once we get a quick read on what's hot in the collection, we're prepared to add to it in short order. The EDM girls are going to be fired up and we're extremely eager to launch the brand again. As for the drop date, we aren't prepared to announce it quite yet. The wait will be well worth it though and stay tuned for updated info as we get closer to the launch.

Inkkie:  Festival season is on the way, got any plans in the works for Kikwear involvement? How's the Back in Action tour going?

Alex: The Back In Action tour has been sick! This has been our primary way of getting our old and new fans on board with Kikwear Industries. What has been great is that we've sponsored events that are both big and small---some in major cities and others in smaller markets that have a vibrant EDM scene. It's really important that we spread the tour all over the country. Kik is really geared up for Festival season too as we're sponsoring a couple such as the Midwest Wonderland Music Festival in Chicago and Farm Fest in New Jersey. We also have a bunch of Team Kikwear members heading to EDC Vegas to promote Kikwear like crazy. We're not a sponsor of EDC, but our team will be out there in a massive

If you are at EDC Vegas, be on the lookout for the new 2 sided fliers

way. 

Inkkie: It seems like Kikwear is everywhere on the web now. How has social media changed the way business is done since the 90's. What is it like seeing all of the feedback and support out there in cyberspace?

Alex: Kikwear has made a huge impact on the web without question. We've been getting great traction and new fans daily to our FB page at Facebook.com/Kikwear while launching new social media platforms such as Instagram, Tumblr, and our You Tube channel coming next. We have been asking our fans and Team Kikwear to tag Kikwear's FB page with Kik pics and hashtag #Kikwear for their Instagram. All of that combined with the number of amazing EDM events we're sponsoring has really given us major internet coverage. We owe the event promoters a lot of credit for this as well because they are doing a fabulous job of promoting the parties we're sponsoring. This is a team effort and everyone is doing their part. 

Inkkie:  Any new additions coming to the Kikwear DJ team? How many DJ's are on-board the team now? 

Alex: The Official Kikwear DJ Team consists of 15 artists including Zoe VanWest who isn't a DJ, but is fully sponsored by Kikwear as a Happy Hardcore vocalist who puts on an insane live show. They've done an unbelievable amount of work to help push our brand and various social media initiatives and we've supported their careers 100% so this has been great for us and them. We are planning to add one internationally known female DJ to the team soon, so stay tuned on that. She's going to add another dimension to our incredible crew and fit in perfectly with our family. I'm also keeping a close eye on some of the DJ's who are currently on the National Street Team.

Members of the Australian Kikwear Street Team out and about

Inkkie:  How is the street team doing? What is it like having such a large group of kikwear fanatics out there on the scene?

Alex: With regard to the Street Team, there's just no way we would have this much global exposure without them. I can't say enough about how much they love our company and the EDM community. Everyone on Team Kikwear does something special and they've all got a different role. They've got complete autonomy, but do have a basic play book on how to best promote Kikwear via our social media platform and representing our gear at events. Our team has a gigantic presence in the States, but we also have a team in Canada, Australia, Germany and we're working on other European countries now. 

Inkkie: How excited have fans been in regards to the stickers and fliers passed out by the street team?

Alex: The stickers have been showing up everywhere and our fans love getting them with their Kikwear.com orders. It's awesome to see photos of them on laptops, bumpers, phones, DJ equipment, and in some really crazy places. Our new fliers are just getting out there now to Team Kikwear and events that we're sponsoring. The first one since our re-launch is outstanding and designed by our art director Robert VanWest. We'll be breaking with new fliers throughout the year so this is something we plan on continuing and hope our fans collect them. 

Me: With the Kikwear Instagram and Facebooks getting the exposure they have how have you felt about the fan submissions that are coming in? 

Alex: Our social media platform in general wouldn't be working as well as it is without the participation from our fans. They make it really tick and keep it fresh. We encourage our fans to post Kik pics to their own FB pages and tag Kikwear. We also love that people are submitting content for our Tumblr page and hash tagging #Kikwear for their Instagram. All of this action is making our web presence really visible and we're stoked that so many people around the globe have embraced it. 

Me:  How would you sum up the past year in one sentence?

Alex: This past year has been humbling, exciting, awesome, epic and a complete team effort from the Kikwear family----Rave on and P.L.U.R.R

Kik It In Style

Designed by famous graffiti artist Doze Green

Kikwear, Inc. is at it again. Things are picking up and phatts are shipping all over the world for the California based clothing company. This summer we can expect to see great things from the company as well as a truly original women’s line with the re-launch of the sister line Kikgirl. I recently had the pleasure of once again getting an incredible interview with the man in charge, CEO Alex Berenson, to get a little more insight into his experiences with the company and a glimpse of what you can expect to see in 2013 and on from Kikwear, Inc. So here we go with the third instalment of the Kikwear chronicles, join me on a trip into the mind behind the line.

I wanted to start this a bit differently than previous interviews with Alex. I feel it's important to get a little history to have a better understanding of how Kikwear came to be so let’s start with a bit of a history and then well get to the future of Kikwear.

Resident DJ Rafer Rawb knows how to keep his 
Kikwear Phatties looking great

Alex has been fortunate enough to have worked for himself since high school, teaching tennis during his summers. After graduating in 1987, Alex attended San Diego State University and studied Business Finance. Four years into his planned 5 years of college education (1991) his best friend and the co-founder/Kik partner, Gregg, came to Alex with a plan. This plan lead to the first Kik style called “Longy's”, a breathable, plush back band, knee length boxer. With the birth of Longy's came an array of patterns and fabrics including plaids, stripes, and solids so there was a huge variety to choose from. As any guy that has had to deal with the hassles and discomfort of an inferior boxer will tell ya, these things were basically the “Rolls Royce of Boxer Shorts.” Instead of heading back to SDSU to finish up his degree, Alex chose to stay in Los Angeles to start Kikwear and wrap up the courses he needed to earn his degree. Alex continued taking night classes at various local colleges, Cal State L.A., Cal State Northridge and Santa Monica City College. After travelling for a year between multiple colleges he was still unable to find courses that would satisfy the requirements for the upper level finance classes he needed to graduate and ended up 9 units shy of his degree. But having started Kikwear at the age of 21, I think most of you would agree that in the 22 years Alex has run the company, he may have learned a bit more than those 9 units would have ever taught him.

Me: We've seen the explosion Kikwear has seen in popularity in the EDM scene, but what's next for the company?

Zoe VanWest sporting her Kik 69ers for a photo shoot

Alex: Kikwear re-launched last December and the timing was perfect heading into 2013. The EDM scene has indeed exploded globally and it seems the one thing missing was an iconic clothing brand for the old skool and new generation of ravers to have new gear they could proudly wear and support. We opened the doors in 1991, but there was a huge gap that our product wasn't out there in the scene. Now that we're back in action, we've started to reach the massive number of ravers around the world. What's next? Well, we're going to continue building the Kikwear brand with new styles, colors and there's a ton of excitement about that. However, the next big corporate move is the reboot of Kikgirl. We're fired up to bring this brand back and it seems that a lot of girls are ready for it too. Zoe VanWest designed some awesome gear and Rob VanWest is leading the way with the KG graphics.

Me: Can we expect to see some sweet casual clothing coming in the near future? Personally, I loved the classic button ups and was wondering if we might be lucky enough to see a return of those?

Kikwear Street Team Leaders of Atlanta, GA. 
Ricky Trentini and Desiree Chomenko

Alex: We do plan on expanding the Kikwear brand this year and into 2014 with a broader base of styles. We know that the ravers love the Kik phatties, but we've also had a ton of business on our new 23" micro-suede cargo pant. We plan to continue launching new phatts, but also add some smaller leg opening styles such as 23" and 26" denims that are in development now. As for other categories like button down shirts, we still haven't decided on how quickly we want to introduce gear in that arena. There is so much we can do with both the Kikwear and Kikgirl brands that we're mulling over. Let's just say that within the next year or so, both brands will be expanding their offerings in order to hit a bigger consumer space while staying true to our EDM roots.

Me: Any big projects in the works? Are we going to be waiting with baited breath for some festival sponsorship or major events?

Alex: Kikwear is continuing to sponsor events all over the country and Canada. As we approach festival season, it's possible that we're going to participate in some of them. We aren't really divulging that info just yet, but we are talking to a lot of festival event promoters. We also hope to sponsor events in Europe and Australia down the road.

Me: What's your favorite part of being CEO at Kikwear?

Alex: My favorite part of being the CEO of Kikwear is far and away interacting with all of the amazing people in the EDM community. I love talking to our fans on FB, street team members, Kik DJ's, event promoters and so many amazing individuals that have become part of the Kikwear family.  It's pretty awesome getting to know so many amazing people in this scene around the world and developing close relationships with them. I'm very hands on, so I've had the pleasure of working closely with a vast number of extremely talented and dedicated people. I get a huge thrill from that interaction that wouldn't be attainable if I didn't put myself out there.

Me: How do you juggle being the CEO of Kikwear with being a husband and father? Does it get overwhelming at times?

Alex: The dynamic of being so close to the Kikwear action and being both a husband and father to three amazing young children and incredible wife has been interesting. It's sometimes tough to shut off the electronics when I get home from work, and I'm trying to find a good balance with that. Since I'm in charge of all the FB content and moderate the page there are messages or time line posts coming in constantly. Often times, I need to answer questions or help someone that wants a suggestion on something to purchase at Kikwear.com, so this is a work in progress. The EDM community has a different schedule than me at times. And if a potential customer posts a question that isn't immediately answered, he/she can get upset which is understandable. I do my best to address everything in a timely manner, but occasionally something slides to the next day.

Me: What can we expect to see with the next line that will be hitting the site? Can we expect new colors (I love my classic olive green phatties) and fabrics?

Alex: We are adding fresh new colors and styles in April that will primarily consist of t-shirts, head wear and accessories. The next wave of new pant colors and styles will be hitting Kikwear.com in May-July. Pant production takes significantly more time than the other categories we're currently offering.

Me: What have you heard from the fans as far as feedback?

Kikwear kandi cuff made by East Coast Street
 Team Leader Laurie Forte

Alex: The feedback from our fans and customers has been overwhelmingly positive!  They are just thrilled that Kikwear is back and available again while Kikgirl is gearing up for her big re-launch in 2-3 months. I think the overall excitement that we're back is amazing and we will continue to support the EDM community because we absolutely love it and all of the people who make this great movement tick. It's all about freedom of expression and P.L.U.R.R

Many thanks to Drew "Inkkie" Ross, our outstanding and loyal National Street Team leader of New Hampshire for asking me these questions for this blog piece. I hope you got some more insight into Kikwear Industries after reading this.

As always it has been my pleasure working with Alex to bring the many Kikwear fans out there another hearty dose of Kikwear knowledge. Big things are in the works and with a dedicated man at the wheel don't expect this ride to end any time soon. Thank you everyone out there that has supported Kikwear over the years and big props to my Kikwear Street Team family. Without dedicated fans this wouldn't be possible. And this has truly been a dream come true for me. Remember to be safe out there and keep the spirit of the scene alive. Live for tomorrow but dance like it may never come.

P.L.U.R.

Drew 'Inkkie' Ross

2013: The Phatts Have Landed

So we are just a week into 2013, and for Kikwear, Inc. big things are already underway.  The re-launch of Kikwear in late 2012 went off huge, the Back in Action Tour is rolling through the country like a freight train full of good beats and killer clothes, and things are gearing up for the Spring/Summer re-launch of the Kikgirl line.  As the New Hampshire Street Team leader, the past few months have been very rewarding to say the least. I've seen the social media feedback explode, but for me it has been all about the one on one face time I've enjoyed with so many unique individuals. Each and every one of us share a common theme which is a passion for the music. Every event I go to, I meet people that can't get over my kustom Kiks, and want to know where and how to score a pair. Through this, I was able to hype so many people up about the re-launch, and on NYE the ravers in their Kiks were out in full force which was a truly fantastic sight to see kicking off the new year.

The "Glowstick Ninja K" designed by company 
art director Robert VanWest, has quickly become
an iconic fan favorite

I soon there after approached Alex Berenson (CEO of Kikwear Inc.) for his reaction to the Kikwear re-launch and the future plans for the company. As all of the Street, Dance, and DJ Teams know, we are a family dedicated to our fans. In addition, the folks at the Kikwear, Inc. HQ have been pivotal to this success.
Each and every one of us owes the company a gigantic thank-you for supporting the EDM movement, spreading the good word, and giving us your feedback.

So thank-you for everyone out there that believed in Kikwear's revival. This one’s for you... so read up, tie on your dancing shoes, and put on your Kik phatties.

Me: What did you expect to see for a response to the news of the Kikwear re-launch? How did the actual response compare? 

Alex: To be perfectly honest, I didn't know what to expect when we released the news that Kikwear was going to re-launch. I personally spent several months researching the EDM scene to gauge its reach as we needed to make sure it was both a national and international movement before making our move. As I engaged with our Facebook fans on a more regular basis, I started getting a very positive feeling about how the re-launch would be received. During this initial “feeling out process” we were also building a National Kikwear Street Team. The members did an amazing job of spreading the news all over the social media space, and at that point I knew we had a solid entry point to return back to this very special scene. The actual response far exceeded my expectations, and now that the line is available at www.kikwear.com we’re getting a lot of love both in the States and from countries abroad. We're happy with the first line, but we’re diligently working on new styles and categories that will be introduced as they come out of production. The Summer line is going to be amazing!

Me: With the early success of the Kikwear re-launch, what have you been seeing and hearing with regard to the Kikgirl?

Zoe VanWest, designer for Kikgirl rocking out at Anime Dreamland,
Kikwear's official Minnesota Re-Launch party

Alex: We wanted to wait for the right time to announce the Kikgirl re-launch in order to keep the focus on Kikwear. The reason we’re bringing Kikgirl back is due to tremendous demand as it was a very successful brand in the ‘90s just like Kikwear. The other primary reason for the Kikgirl reboot is that even though a lot of girls are buying Kikwear, they want a line with the EDM vibe, but that fits like a women’s brand should. Our goal is to stay true to our roots with updated old skool styles, but also introduce brand new styles. We’re sticking to the Kikwear playbook for this new collection that we plan on dropping in Spring or Summer of this year. It’s going to be awesome and appealing to many people with differing tastes. 

Me: What has it been like to work with a National Street Team as well as a Dance Team and sponsored DJ’s?

Jimni Cricket, Kikwear's Officially Sponsored DJ knows how to Kandi Rave in style

Alex: Working closely with Team Kikwear which consists of the National Street and Dance Teams in addition to the Officially Sponsored Kikwear DJ team has been nothing short of incredible! They have helped bring back our line to thousands of people and helped us reach the new generation that didn't know who Kikwear or Kikgirl was in the '90s. I've enjoyed the experience immensely as I've been able to get great information about the scene on a myriad of levels. Team Kikwear is incredibly loyal to our company and has promoted our brands and officially sponsored events to literally thousands of people around the world. Further, there have been a handful of dedicated FB groups that have spawned from our re-emergence into this exciting arena. In short, Kikwear Industries would not be this far along in our mission without our dedicated teams working as hard as they do.

Me: What are some of your future plans for the company this year?

All of you people from the Mile High city, be sure to make it out to
Heart Beatz on February 15th. for the Official Kikwear Denver Re-Launch Party

Alex: 2013 is going to be a VERY exciting year for Kikwear, Inc. We will be building the Kikwear brand, re-launching Kikgirl, and continuing to push forward on our "Back In Action" event tour across the States and Canada. We're developing some insane new product for Kikwear and solidifying the Kikgirl re-launch line simultaneously. There is a ton of excitement here at the Los Angeles HQ and our staff is fired up! We're also talking about some exciting things for the back half of 2013 which will be announced on our Facebook.com/Kikwear page as the news is ready to become public. In addition, we're really hyped on continuing to develop our Soundcloud.com/Kikwear page which has been steadily growing with new followers every day. It's a great platform for us to hear a lot of great music from DJ's around the world, while discovering new talent.

Me: Is there anything else that we haven't covered which you would like to tell the Kikwear fans out there?

The new Kikwear.com is live so get over there ASAP and check out the 
brand new line of clothing, accessories, and gift certificates!

Alex: I would like to conclude by saying that this re-launch has 100% been a team effort. There isn't a single person in our organization who made this happen. It was a major undertaking that required a collective effort by Team Kikwear. We've brought hundreds if not thousands of people together and many new friendships have been formed. Our message of P.L.U.R. has taken form and will continue to moving forward. If you haven't taken a spin through the new Kikwear.com website please check it out so you can see the complete 

re-launch line.

There you have it from Alex Berenson himself. It is all of you that made this amazing journey a possibility. There are big things ahead for this incredible company, and don’t expect them to lose steam anytime soon. It’s not going to stop till every raver, kandi kid, breaker, shuffler, hustler and rocker know the name so watch out cuz the age of the phatt is finally here.

-Drew 'Inkkie' Ross