The Battalion
Linda Wong, co-founder of contemporary clothing line The Battalion, followed a simple line of logic to resolve her desire to design edgy, avant-garde clothing that also is customer friendly.
“I want to make something that is true to my heart, but at the same time, I have to make something that is wearable,” Wong said. “And what’s wearable, I believe, is what’s comfortable.”
Wong decided on a knits line after she found herself always reaching for the easy-to-wear knits in her closet at home.
Wong founded The Battalion last year with her sister, Chrys Wong, who has retail experience as a store manager at Chan Luu and merchandising manager at Maxfield, both in Los Angeles. After Linda graduated from Otis College of Art and Design, she worked at Chan Luu for three years, starting there as an assistant jewelry designer before moving up to associate designer for the clothing line.
The Battalion hits on key trends of the season, thanks to the sisters’ personal edge. Their take on the trench coat brings out the best in the brushed rayon/cotton/ polyester knit fabric through a loose and slouchy shape. They combine the trend of volume and leggings into a pant that has the appearance of a separate bubble short worn with leggings. All of the brushed rayon/cotton/polyester knit pieces are sewn inside out for a soft touch on the inside.
“It’s basically everything that the customer asks me for in the store that we don’t have,” said Chrys, who tests the market for Battalion’s new styles by wearing the clothing to work as a sales associate in the women’s designer salon at Barney’s New York in Beverly Hills.
Linda sprinkles in her avant-garde flourish through pieces that can be worn buttoned, unbuttoned, belted, knotted and cinched with drawstrings. One example is an A-line halter dress with a drawstring waist that has two holes on the outer skirt layer. The wearer can pick the back of the skirt up over her shoulders and put her arms through the holes to convert the skirt into an attached shawl.
Jade Lai, owner and buyer of Creatures of Comfort in West Hollywood, Calif., said the versatility of The Battalion’s pieces was a selling point. “They try to think of very innovative ways to wear clothes and I think they are very special that way,” said Lai, who is also a friend of the sisters. “They definitely try to be very design oriented.”
Wholesale price points range from $58 for a rayon/polyester/Lycra long-sleeved henley tee with magnetic snap closures to $125 for a knotted tube dress that can be worn five different ways to $248 for a leather jacket, which is the only non-knit item in the line.
For more information, call (323) 691-8551. —Rhea Cortado
