Hope & Glorie: Moving Beyond My-Tee
For the past eight years, designer Chrissy Azzaro successfully ran My-Tee, a Los Angeles–based apparel line known for its signature cotton T-shirts. Celebrities Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, and Kelly Ripa flocked to My-Tee for the extra-soft feel.
But as the designer started to add skirts, dresses and even sweaters to the brand, Azzaro was caught in a bind. The My-Tee name could no longer fit. “When they see the name My-Tee, our costumers just imagine T-shirts,” she said. “They can’t imagine cashmere sweaters or dresses.”
So Azzaro made a dramatic move. The former stylist restructured her company and will be introducing Hope & Glorie, a new contemporary collection that will be a division of My-Tee. Named after her grandmother, the 22-piece line will feature long halter dresses, Bermuda shorts and high-waist skirts in Supima cotton. Other highlights from the Spring collection will be bamboo fabrics in sweaters and vintage-inspired touches such as broaches and antique buttons. “It was just time for us to grow up a little bit with our designing,” said Azzaro. Hope & Glorie makes its debut at the Project Global Trade Show Aug. 28–30 in Las Vegas.
As for My-Tee, Azzaro said the line would live on, albeit in a more charitable form. Last year, the apparel company teamed with Teri Hatcher to design one-ofa- kind T-shirts in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The company is working with charities Max of the Million Dreams and Presents for Purpose to exclusively design My-Tee shirts.
Azzaro insists that the customers who loved My-Tee will also appreciate Hope & Glorie. “The look is much more sophisticated. It’s not as kitschy,” adds Azzaro’s sister Nicole.
The company, based in Westlake Village, Calif., is strictly a family affair. The five-person operation includes Chrissy Azzaro and sister Nicole, who not only is a partner in the company in charge of production but also acts as the print model for Hope & Glorie’s lookbooks. Mom is creative director, researching the designs and drawing inspiration from classic 1940s films.
Wholesale price points for Hope & Glorie will range from $18 for a tank top to $70 for a dress and $75 for a sweater. For more information, contact Missy Arko at the File Showroom in the Cooper Design Space at (213) 430-9114.
—Lilliam Rivera
