Jonas Bevacqua

{{Short description|American clothing designer and entrepreneur}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jonas Gregory Bevacqua

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1977|10|23}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|05|30|1977|10|23}}

| nationality = American

| known_for = co-founder of Lifted Research Group

| children = 1

}}

Jonas Bevacqua (October 23, 1977 – May 30, 2011) was an American clothing designer and entrepreneur.

Early life

Jonas Gregory Bevacqua was born October 23, 1977, and was adopted into a family with six other adopted children of different races and ethnicities. He was of Vietnamese descent.{{cite news |author=Lopez |first=Robert J. |date=June 1, 2011 |title=Jonas Bevacqua dies at 33; co-founder of hip-hop fashion house LRG |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/01/local/la-me-jonas-bevacqua-20110601 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111012459/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/01/local/la-me-jonas-bevacqua-20110601 |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |work=Los Angeles Times}}

Career

In 1999 he co-founded Lifted Research Group (LRG) with Robert Wright.{{cite news |author=Martin |first=Douglas |date=June 1, 2011 |title=Jonas Bevacqua, Co-Founder of LRG Clothing, Dies at 33 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/business/02bevacqua.html?ref=deathsobituaries |work=The New York Times}}

After Bevacqua dropped out of college and moved back home with his parents, he met fellow LRG founder Robert Wright when they were both working as DJs in Southern California clubs.{{cite news |author=Rogers |first=John |date=May 31, 2011 |title=Jonas Bevacqua Dead: LRG Clothing Founder Dies At 34 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/01/jonas-bevacqua-dead-dies_n_869538.html |work=Huffington Post}} Heavily influenced by Southern California's skateboard, surfing, and hip hop culture; Bevacqua and Wright started designing and making clothes that reflected their interests but were not available at the time.

By 2007 Entrepreneur placed LRG at No. 5 on its "Hot 500" list of fastest-growing companies, with 2006 sales coming in at $150 million.{{cite news |author=LRG Clothing |author-link=Lifted Research Group |date=June 1, 2011 |title=Jonas Gregory Bevacqua "visionary" |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150207338079306&set=a.393504329305.173561.352816699305&type=1&theaterl |work=Facebook}}{{cite web |author=Chang |first=Vickie |date=9 November 2011 |title=[UPDATE: Died of Natural Causes] Jonas Bevacqua, Co-Founder of LRG Clothing, Found Dead |url=http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2011/11/jonas_bevacqua_lrg_death_natural_causes.php |accessdate=25 August 2015 |work=OC Weekly blog}}

Death

Jonas Bevacqua was found dead at his Laguna Beach home on May 31, 2011. He was 33 years old. In November 2011, Orange County Coroner's Office determined that Bevacqua died of natural causes.{{cite web |author=Chang |first=Vickie |date=May 31, 2011 |title=[UPDATED With Official Statement] Jonas Bevacqua, Co-Founder of LRG Clothing, Found Dead |url=http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2011/05/jonas_bevacqua_co-founder_of_l.php |work=OC Weekly}} Bevacqua was survived by his fiancée, son, parents and seven siblings.

References

Category:1977 births

Category:2011 deaths

Category:Place of birth missing

Category:American fashion designers

Category:American people of Vietnamese descent

Category:California people in fashion

Category:People from Orange County, California