Species of T-Shirt Is Organically Grown
Mike Korchinsky, who has a college degree in chemical engineering, seems an unlikely candidate to design a T-shirt sold in trendy boutiques. But while on safari in Kenya in 1996, the 39-year-old San Francisco management consultant found himself pondering how to help relieve the pressure of human encroachment on animal habitat.
A year later, the lifelong environmentalist and animal rights supporter founded Wildlife Works to raise money to support the 80,000-acre Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary in Kenya.
“We wanted to create fashionable products that look good and yet save the environment,” Korchinsky said. Made of organically grown cotton, the T-shirts feature a variety of animals, some endangered, some not.
The Dari boutique in Studio City has sold more than 200 of the $31 T-shirts since June when Wildlife Works’ first line became available, according to owner Melanie Shatner, daughter of actor William Shatner. “I decided to sell them for two reasons. They are cute, and all the money goes to the organization,” she said. “I want to help the animals.”
Fred Segal in Santa Monica also sells the T-shirts. Actresses such as Charlize Theron, Helen Hunt, Kristin Davis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alyssa Milano, Lucy Lawless and Lisa Nicole Carson have been seen in the shirts.
This fall, Korchinsky hopes to open a Wildlife Works plant within the preserve. The idea is to create employment opportunities for local residents and keep away poachers.
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Levi Strauss & Co. marketers are touting their new Dockers Mobile Pants for men as perfect for “on-the-go professionals.” But “dweebwear” would be a more apt description.
Outfitted with three zippered pockets--one on each leg and another on the side--the $52 cotton slacks are supposed to hold mobile gadgetry such as phones and hand-held computers.
But the two leg pockets--stitched into the seam--are too small to hold all but the smallest devices. For instance, try to stuff a Compaq Pocket PC in the compartment, and it will fit only after being removed from its Body Glove case. Even then, it creates a big bulky rectangle around mid-thigh.
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When a guest at the posh hotel Le Meridian at Beverly Hills was seen juggling his pager, phone and Palm Pilot, while on his way to send a fax, a sharp concierge came to the rescue. Elaine Eastwood suggested the hotel provide guests a garment to accommodate their tech toys. Voila ! Le Pajama Pant--featuring three pockets down the left leg with embroidered labels for Le Pager, Le Phone and Le Palm Pilot--was born.
Le Meridian general manager Jacques Ligne developed the cotton drawstring pants in July, and they have since been spotted not only at the hotel, but also around town. (They sell for $39.95, but VIPs get ‘em for free.)
“There was no intention to make this a fashion trend,” hotel spokeswoman Arlene Winnick said. It just happened that way.
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Aaron Curtiss, Marjorie Hernandez and Gloria Diaz contributed to this report.
