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But it was ultimately design that made his name known.
By the time Buchanan reached his teen years, he demonstrated the makings of a true designer. He first learned his craft by picking up books and reading about design, pattern making and fabrics. That was not something uncommon for Buchanan who by the time he reached high school had already been designing clothes for himself.
When I decided to go to art school, and needed to finance my way through, I did it by designing belts and vests, recalls Buchanan, today a seasoned veteran and master at his craft.
Buchanan had always been an entrepreneur at heart. By 1971, Buchanan launched his first apparel company called Gandolf & Company, a men's and women's leather outerwear and sportswear firm. Buchanan owned and ran Gandolf until 1976, when he sold it to explore other interests. Buchanan began doing freelance design work, while at the same time, attending Cranbrook Art Academy for sculpture classes.
Within two years, Buchanan was at it again. This time developing a leather outerwear brand that he would call Pelle Pelle. The brand would debut in 1978 and would later evolve into one of the leading young men's lifestyle brands of the 21st century.
When I began Pelle Pelle I was just designing a high fashion leather line at realistic prices to fill a void in the market, says Buchanan. The evolution to street wear was natural the line fit easily into an urban lifestyle.
Buchanan keeps to the same design and philosophy principles of his early years: providing consumers with direction; creating extreme but tasteful wearable fashions and at the same time, keeping the integrity of his product.
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Last Updated: 4/5/2011
Information in this report relies on information provided by individual designers, public relations agencies and other public sources. Infomat can accept no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information or for loss or damage caused by any use thereof.
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