“For years, refined Italian and casual All-American men’s looks have been imitated, rehashed, reworked and reinterpreted season after season but never before have they collided as they do in Gourmet. This is a new, revolutionary, remixed laid back luxury inspired by Italian culture, food, style and music. Gourmet is both high and low, style forward yet familiar, chic and gauche. Each piece possesses an understated complexity that underlies Gourmet’s high concept DNA.”
Gourmet for me is a brand that has consistently ticked all the right boxes season after season. All hype aside they continue to bring new and innovative models to the footwear market produced with expert quality and representing an original and authentic lifestyle. This lifestyle according to the Gourmet website has its cornerstone influences based in Italian-American culture.
We thought we would show you a deeper look at the guys behind the Gourmet brand to see exactly what it takes to really create your own personal niche within an already crowded industry. Gourmet was founded in 2005 and is currently owned and operated by its original three founders; Jon Buscemi, Greg Lucci and Greg Johnsen.
Jon Buscemi
Starting out after university as an investment banker it wasn’t until the year 2000 Jon Buscemi left the banking industry for a sales position in the skateboard industry, at Girl Distribution. After representing Girl and its flagship apparel brand, Fourstar, he left in late 2003 for position of Global Product Director for DC Shoes. During his time there he created the DC Connoisseur Collection, a global lifestyle fashion category. After a 3 year stay at DC, Buscemi moved to LA to become Brand Director for LA-based luxury eyewear brand Oliver Peoples. Oliver Peoples houses Paul Smith spectacles and Mosley Tribes.
Greg Johnsen
Greg Johnsen started his career as the buyer for global influence retailer Union, one of the most exclusive street wear boutiques in the world. From there, he started designing for street wear heavyweights like Supreme and Stussy. He started his own brand Situationormal in 1996 and opened the flagship store for the brand in 2001, in downtown Los Angeles. In 2004, Greg also became Creative Director for Lotto North America and there Lotto Leggenda lifestyle collection. Along with Lotto, Greg opened the most exclusive head wear boutique in Los Angeles, Hall of Fame, to sell limited edition caps and head wear from fashion and street wear brands from around the world.
Greg Lucci
Greg Lucci started his career on the retail side founding the Chaos Shop in Santa Monica in 1993, which expanded into 3 locations in Southern California. In 1998 he moved to Fred Segal as lead buyer and fashion consultant for men’s apparel, footwear and accessories. While at Fred Segal, he contracted and consulted on an international project for Adidas, and helped launch Adidas Originals. Greg then moved to NYC to take the position of Vice President of Zoo York. There he also played a key creative role in Mark Ecko Enterprises, such as Complex Magazine, G-Unit Apparel, and ME Collections. Lucci also has launched his own jewelry line, Ends, and is also on contract with Adidas working on the O by O David Beckham capsule.
Words adapted from Gourmet official website.