New Shirt Line Is a Chip Off the Old Block

Ezra Homann, son of Sue Wong, is following his mother’s path in the fashion industry, but he has taken a slight diversion from her elaborate evening gowns and dresses.

Homann’s line, Brooklyn, N.Y.–based Square, features men’s and women’s T-shirts, polos, hoodies and jackets that are wholesale priced from $14 to $30. The line is based on Homann’s pop art–driven graphics. Current designs feature Jesus icons and smog-masked characters over an “I Love L.A.” emblem.

After one year on the market, sales for Square have tripled, garnering the line entry into hot specialty stores, including Atrium in New York, Bent in Los Angeles and Jet Field in Tokyo. The company’s new women’s styles have grown to account for one-third of sales.

“The line has visual strength, and people have been responding to the colors,” Homann said. “I try to stand out and produce something more than the generic T-shirt.”

The young designer grew up in Los Angeles and learned apparel design from his famous mother. After studying art in college, gaining bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California State University, Long Beach and Yale University, he settled in New York to bring art to apparel design. “It’s the center of the art world and a vital place to be in,” he said.Homann has developed prints and embroidery motifs for Wong and collaborated with her on a number of designs. He began working alongside his mother at age 15, and said he learned things from her about the apparel business that are not taught in schools.

“It’s like I got three degrees: two in fine arts and one working for my mom,” he said. “But it’s great to see all the years of hard work for her paying off.”

Homann hopes to take a similar path to success. “It’s been exciting. I just want to keep the company growing. The next season is a big improvement,” he said.

Wong said she thinks Homann has a future in the apparel business. “His designs are young, spirited and contemporary. The young men’s market needs that right now,” she said.

Square is sold by Aaron Levant in the California Market Center. For more information, e-mail ezra@squareshirts.com. —Robert McAllister