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