Crooks and Castle ~ Jasterd

HOLIDAY 2011 LOOKBOOK

ABOUT CROOKS & CASTLES

Crooks & Castles have always routed for the villain whether it be in a movie, a comic book, a novel, a rap song or every- day life. Growing up in Los Angeles during the 80’s and 90’s they became a part of this villainous lifestyle. Gangs were everywhere-the hood, the city, even middle suburbia. Most had no choice but to adapt to the environment. Some were able to escape or even channel what they’ve learned on the street into something lucrative. What caught our attention in the mid 90’s was independent fashion/graphic brands.

After years of learning the in’s and out’s of the business by starting a brand without knowledge of how to start or run a clothing company, they finally come to this…”Crooks & Castles”! The concept was easy. “Crooks”, criminals, pimps, hustlers, thieves, etc. And “Castles” those who got rich by becoming a crook. From the robber barons of the early times like the Vanderbilts, the Rockerfellers, the Carnegies, to the modern day billionaires-Bill Gates & Microsoft. Those who stopped at nothing to get their “Castle”. they too hope one day to be the next rich crook.

In some of our designs you might see a familiar icon or logo that they took (stole) and gave it our own twist. they felt that some high fashion brands only catered to someone in a certain lifestyle or with a rather large bank account. Therefore, they took what they made and crafted it to fit ours. In all honesty…Who cares. they just really wanted to make some…hot shit! they thank you for supporting Crooks & Castles. Please keep supporting the Crooks and we’ll keep serving up some hot shit!!.

HOLIDAY 2011

Founder

Check out The interview with Chris Natalio with DrJays.com , Crooks’s marketing director, who’s been with the brand since its humble beginnings. Find out what it’s like to work with Crooks and what’s in store for summer:

DrJays.com: How did you get your start in streetwear, and with Crooks?

Chris: “I’ve been a big fan of streetwear since the early 90s, before it was even given that name. I was drawn to the edgy graphics and rebellious nature of the brands at the time. I’ve been part of the Crooks family since the late 80s, so when the opportunity came up, it was natural I fill the position.”

DrJays.com: Describe a typical day in the life of Crooks’ marketing director.

Chris: “My work day starts around 9:30am; I’m usually the first one in the office. I start by answering emails and updating the blog. I then follow up with some of the bigger projects I have in the matrix, such as photo shoots, events, collaborations and everything in between. We get a few random artists that come by the office, so I have to make sure they’re taken care of. Plus probably a million more things I didn’t mention!”

DrJays.com: You’ve been with the brand since day one—how has it evolved over the years?

Chris: “We came into the game with t-shirts, as did the other streetwear brands, but we’ve been able to grow into a complete lifestyle brand. We now offer gear from head to toe, plus an array of accessories, a women’s collection, a kid’s collection and footwear. Anything you can think of we’ve probably made or it’s in the works!”.

2012 Look Book