Standing Strong
Yohanna Logan and Corey Parks, co-founders of razor-sharp L.A. fashion brand Stand & Deliver, couldn't be more perfect models for their post-punk-meets-swanky-Italian-leather collection.
The blonde Angelinos, who launched their collection in November 2010, pull inspiration for their collection (and personal wardrobes) from the street fashion of Kings Road in London, circa 1977, and seminal style savants including the Stooges, Pete Dougherty, Adam Ant, Debbie Harry and David Bowie.
We're talking ripped fishnets, studded skirts and leather, leather, leather.
But as dramatic as it all is, it's also totally wearable. “We’re elaborating on the staples that everyone needs in their wardrobe,” said Logan. “It’s timeless.”
And they're not simply adopting rock style — they lived the rock 'n roll lifestyle for years. Parks was the gnarly girl bassist for no-joke rock band Nashville Pussy and Chelsea Girls; and Logan was the lead singer for electro-pop band Wow! Cougar. The two met through mutual friends in Los Angeles ten years ago and became fast friends when Logan moved into Parks’s old Laurel Canyon abode.
“The Canyon is very inspiring,” noted Parks, who was a designer for Maxfield before launching Stand & Deliver, which was named after an Adam Ant song. "The rich musical history…you can’t help living there and not feeling the creative energy. I think that definitely shows through in the stuff that we’re making.”
When the pair joined forces, Logan had her own line, Shawn. “I was the leather to her lace,” joked Parks, conjuring the inimitable Stevie Nicks.
And over the years, Logan and Parks have forged a lasting relationships with Maxfield owner Tommy Perse (who bought Parks her first sewing machine) and high-profile musicians including Fergie, Lenny Kravitz and Bono. Though several items in their collection sell at Perse’s store, the bulk of their pieces are made to order and everything is hand-studded and hand-finished.
“The idea of craftsmanship, that someone put their hands on it, is really important to us,” says Parks. “It’s actually someone spending hours doing each one of those studs [on the jacket] by hand. We like that idea that it’s special, so we’re going to try to keep it as special as we can for as long as we can.”
The brand's signature item, the stunningly functional leather Moto Jacket, was the first piece they made together. Priced from $3,000 and up, the jacket can be worn in various ways — by zipping off the sleeves or waistband. “The studded sleeves look like sheets of metal but with movement in them,” said Parks. “I sort of liked this idea that if you’re going to spend that much money on a jacket, that you can wear it a bunch of different ways.” Best of all the sleeve pieces can be zipped onto other items in the collection, including this killer goat-hair vest.
For Spring 2012, Stand & Deliver will debut denim and small leather medicine bags (no doubt inspired by the Canyon), and leather jackets will get cap-sleeves. A men’s collection to compliment the women’s is slated for next year.
Looking forward, Logan and Parks are committed to sticking with their vision of designing what they want to wear and what their friends want as well. “It’s fashion for the riot,” said Parks. “And the riot…we’ll leave that up to you.”