The Penthouse

The Lady Liberty Building843 S. Los Angeles St.Suite 500(213) 327-0969trey@thepenthousela.com

For many, work in a showroom begins with an internship. For Trey Alligood, co-owner of The Penthouse showroom, his work started with a dance injury.

For more than five years, Alligood traveled the world as a cast member and dancer for “Blast!,” a kinetic Cirque Du Soleil–style Broadway show. But after suffering a number of back injuries, his doctors gave him a stark choice: Get a new career or face life after age 30 in a wheelchair.

Alligood gave up dance and chose to work in the fashion industry. He started out selling clothes at a number of Los Angeles boutiques, including J. Ransom.

From 2005 to 2007, he worked in sales for 575 Jeans, where he met veteran sales executive Michelle Peschel. Both casually talked about opening their own showrooms. Their dreams became reality when they joined forces and spent more than three months last year looking for the right space for their venture.

They found it in a 6,500-square-foot space that was formerly a sewing contractor’s workshop on the top floor of The Lady Liberty building. Spending $85,000, they transformed it from a grimy workshop to a loft-like sales space detailed with chandeliers and exposed brick.

Their showroom debuted on Aug. 14, 2007, specializing in contemporary and casual fashion. Their lines include Dylan George, the recently debuted casual lifestyle collection line from former William Rast chief Danny Guez. Retail price points range from $198 to $286 for the new line’s jeans.

The duo also reps True Religion Footwear, a licensee for the Los Angeles–based premium-denim company. Recommended retail prices range from $110 for sneakers to $395 for boots.

The showroom also handles sales for satiric streetwear lines such as Kid Dangerous. One popular shirt bears the slogan “L.A. Don’t (Heart) U.” Retail price points are from $68 to $295. Other lines are Chaser L.A., Rex and Unstoppable.

Alligood said the showroom will bask in some pop-culture glitz later this month by hosting a party for Dylan George. The fashion-savvy cast members from MTV’s reality series “The Hills” are expected to attend. —Andrew Asch