:Lifted Research Group
{{Short description|American clothing brand}}
{{Multiple issues|{{More citations needed|date=March 2022}}
{{Tone|date=March 2022}}}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Lifted Research Group, Inc.
| logo = Lifted Research Group (clothing brand) logo.png
| caption =
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| predecessor =
| successor =
| foundation = Orange County, California ({{Start date|1999}})
| founder =
| defunct =
| location_city = Irvine, California
| location_country = U.S.
| locations =
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people =
| industry = Apparel
| products =
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| homepage = {{URL|l-r-g.com}}
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}}
Lifted Research Group, commonly known as LRG, is an American clothing brand headed by Jonas Bevacqua and Robert Wright and based in Orange County, California. LRG produces clothing and accessories and also has been known to develop a broad range of products consisting of electronic accessories, extreme vehicles, and outdoor equipment including sporting goods and more. The company is also involved in the promotion of underground recording artists and sponsors a skateboarding team.
Entrepreneur magazine ranked the company at #5 on its 2007 Hot 500 list of fastest-growing companies.{{cite web |title=Hot 500 Company Listing |url=http://www.entrepreneur.com/downloads/HOT_500_2007.pdf |access-date=2012-08-30 |publisher=Entrepreneur Magazine}}
History
Lifted Research Group was founded in 1999 by Jonas Bevacqua and Robert Wright.{{cite web
|title=LRG Clothing Brand Information
|publisher=SoJones
|url=http://www.sojones.com/major-designers/lrg-clothing/index.html
|access-date=2008-08-12
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922111408/http://www.sojones.com/major-designers/lrg-clothing/index.html
|archive-date=2008-09-22
}} Wright brought extensive experience in the streetwear industry to LRG, having worked with such companies as Quiksilver, O'Neill, and Katin during eight years.{{cite web
| last = Erwin
| first = Joey
| title = No Room for Lethargy at LRG; Lifted Research Group Passionately Promotes the Underground Skate Culture
| publisher = Daily News Record
| url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-66382788.html
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162036/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-66382788.html
| url-status=dead
| archive-date=2015-09-24
| access-date = 2008-08-12 }} He also contributed the resources to create the company's initial samples and patterns. Bevacqua also raised the initial start-up capital from friends of his adopted father, who worked in the fashion industry.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} This capital was used to finance an initial product run that sold out on their first day at the Action Sports Retailer Expo in San Diego, California.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} The company made its first $1 million in 2000, and the company became profitable by 2002.{{cite journal
| title = Lifted Research Group Company Information
| journal = Entrepreneur.
| url = http://www.entrepreneur.com/Hot500/Details/5.html
| access-date = August 12, 2007}}
In late 2005, LRG announced their new women's clothing line named Luxirie, which targets women aged 18 to 30 years old.{{cite news
| title = L-R-G to Enter Women's Urban Market with Luxirie
| publisher = Women's Wear Daily
| url = http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-11585464_ITM
| access-date = 2007-08-12
| date=2005-11-02
| first=Khanh T.L.
| last=Tran}} Designs from the label cover six themes, ranging from Western to military, and include signature items such as crystal-covered jeans. The label launched in the United States and Canada in the fall of 2006. LRG has since launched its products in other countries, as well as hosting an international skate team. Rider Marek Zaprazny has been a star in their international team.{{cite web |url=http://l-r-g.com/blog/2016/05/26/marek-zaprazny-in-barcelona/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220094739/http://l-r-g.com/blog/2016/05/26/marek-zaprazny-in-barcelona/ |archive-date=2016-12-20 |title=LRG - MAREK ZAPRAZNY In Barcelona}} In the fall of 2006, wireless provider T-Mobile launched a limited edition Sidekick III designed by LRG. It featured a green-on-green theme that made liberal use of LRG's logo. After a production run of 10,000 units, T-Mobile's website reported that it was sold out.{{cite web
| title = T-Mobile Sidekick 3 phone details
| publisher = T-Mobile
| url = http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/detail.aspx?tp=tb1&device=e2d7f357-b95b-4e9f-948c-96cd6ab211c7
| access-date = 2007-08-12}}
On May 31, 2011, Jonas Bevacqua was found dead of natural causes, aged 33.{{cite news|last=Esquivel|first=Paloma|title=Fashion designer Jonas Bevacqua, 33, found dead in Laguna Beach home|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/06/fashion-designer-found-dead-in-laguna-beach-home.html|access-date=June 1, 2011|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|date=June 1, 2011}}
LRG began to renew its designs by hiring Nick Bower in 2017. In 2018, LRG collaborated with artists Jon Z, Chip The Ripper, Rvssian and Jhay Cortez among others. In 2019, LRG partnered with Apple Music as an official playlist curator.{{Cite news|date=2019-05-13|title=LRG Becomes Apple Music Curator|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2019-05-13/lrg-becomes-apple-music-curator|access-date=2021-04-09}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.l-r-g.com/blog LRG Clothing Blog]
- [http://shop.L-R-G.com LRG Online Store]
Category:Clothing brands of the United States
Category:Clothing companies established in 1999
Category:1999 establishments in California