I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to build some kind of lifestyle brand that was preppy and cool.

In designing a lifestyle brand, you have to know more than just designing clothes.

The preppy lifestyle has gone global. We feel that our business has grown so well because preppy travels so well. It's all-American classic.

Over the last 15 years we've developed our brand into a global brand and we wanted our giving to follow suit.

We had incense and rock'n'roll posters, and we sold records and rolling papers. People could just, like, hang out. We had a cool vibe going.

We are really living the American dream, to be a successful brand in the States and in Europe and to steep ourselves in our heritage. But we do it with a sense of humor. We don't take ourselves too seriously in fashion.