Comune's Delgadillo Debuts New Brand
About a month after he and more than eight of his staff left prominent up-and-coming brand Comune, founder Frank Delgadillo debuted a new fashion label, called Chapter, on July 13. The brand’s headquarters will be located in Costa Mesa, Calif., on the grounds of the former Comune offices.
Chapter’s first collection will have a soft launch for Spring/Summer 2012. A full collection of men’s and women’s fashions will hit stores for the Fall 2012 season, according to a press release from the new brand.
Delgadillo’s new line will offer denim and woven shirting, which the label’s statement called an “affordable premium product.” Like Delgadillo’s past successful brands, Comune, started in 2008, and Ambiguous, started in 1996, the new line’s looks will be influenced by skate, surf, snow and fashion. Chapter also will make homeware brands.
Comune has been sold at Pacific Sunwear, Jack’s Surfboards and American Rag. Last September, it started a diffusion line called Sandinista for Pacific Sunwear that had a more economic price point than Comune’s.
The remaining staff at Comune moved its offices to downtown Los Angeles. On July 13, it was announced that the Derelicte showroom in the California Market Center will be representing Comune. Derelicte will exhibit Comune at the upcoming Capsule trade shows, scheduled to run July 18–19 in New York and Aug. 22–23 in Las Vegas.
Delgadillo and his team announced June 17 that they resigned from Comune after a disagreement with the brand’s business partners over the direction of the label.—Andrew Asch
