Byron Bay boys Marco Zirov 24, Antoine Ryan 21 and Damian Gordon 21 are the founders of an all Australian made fashion label with a boutique art / fashion store in Sydney's tourist mecca, Bondi Beach. They have named their shop front "Palestine" due to the high Jewish population in the area however Antoine states that the reason for the shop name ("Palestine") is because the art / fashion label he co founded is unique and is not intended to cross cultural boundaries.
Before the existing Pete Versus Toby was born, the founders of the label drove at least 8 hours one way to showcase their talents every weekend at the trendy Glebe and Bondi markets. Their designs were so popular the current Pete Versus Toby came into being. Impressively, they have had no formal business training or education (Marco has nearly completed an undergraduate degree in psychology) and whilst their annual turnover is commercially sensitive information, they pay their rent and bills on time which they state is rare in the rag trade.
The Why of How They are Different
This realized aim of theirs to be different shows in their t-shirt and singlet patterns as one of their designs - a picture of the singer Madonna with the word "free" in graffiti style writing below the caption - featured on a segment on channel nine's A Current Affair. A stockist in Sydney found a threatening note under her store door when she featured this controversial t shirt of the fashion label Pete Versus Toby in a window display.
This difference is also shown in how the name of the fashion label was conceived. An artist on staff, Mr Raina Hede, saw a homeless man carve "Pete Versus Toby" onto a surfboard. They are also working according to their own business timetable with a new expanded line planned for next winter which will feature pullovers and casual wear. The reason why they have created their own timetable (evidenced by their 12 ranges per year as opposed to the industry norm of two to three) is again to be unique and to be as fresh as possible. Furthermore, they are possibly the youngest (in age) fashion label in the country.
The world that the founders of this up and coming fashion label would like to live in is vastly different to the one that we all find ourselves in. Marco would like the world to be one country and all water, fruits and vegetables would be free with no one left behind. Antoine would like to live as he puts it in a "socialist world, so no one has to work" and Damian who moonlights as a nurse at a major inner city hospital would like everyone to be happy and healthy as well as to appreciate nature and music.
Australia and Beyond
Their latest t shirt design is a light hearted joke towards Antoine, Marco and Damian's friends at another ex Australian fashion house with RIP (rest in peace) written below below their friends (fashion label) company logo. Their success in the bottom line in tandem with their designs and range drew the attention of a multi national who bought them out. Antoine comments that they have had their time in the sun (the founders friends at another label) and it is now Pete Versus Toby's time to shine and he (Antoine) and his partners do not plan on selling out for cash.
Their youthful designs, though not age specific or targeted, are proudly made in Sydney Australia and their cotton are only those that are certified as organic and is sourced from India and Turkey. As well as their boutique store "Palestine", this label has dozens of stockists in Australia and New Zealand, are starting out in Hong Kong and have a small presence in Japan. Damian (founder) is planning however to take Pete Versus Toby to the world with the objective of securing stockists all over.
Pete Versus Toby describe themselves as visionaries, each partner of the business with a focus. Antoine (founder) describes his clothes as what they like to wear and is also descriptive about them with "any word that celebrates life". Pete Versus Toby is on the rise and with these visionaries at the helm, they are destined to become a household name.
Dean Levick - Hey, My name is Dean Levick, I live in Kings Cross Sydney Australia, am 40yo with a story to tell and now with Suite 101, an audience to ...
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