History Of Luca Luca

Luca Luca is a high-end women’s fashion brand founded in New York in 1991 by Luca Orlandi. The label’s sophisticated and elegant couture-like products at ready-to-wear prices have included daywear, eveningwear, and select accessories.

Born in Milan, Orlandi comes from an Italian family with a long history in the fashion textile business. After earning a BA from Bocconi University in Milan and an MBA from Columbia University, Orlandi began an apprenticeship with the Hero Group in New York, where he worked on bridge collections for Bill Blass and Oscar de la Renta.

The Early Years

The first Luca Luca boutique opened on the corner of Madison Avenue and 78th Street in 1992. The decision to locate in a part of Madison Avenue less exploited by fashion retailers but closer to New York City’s most elegant and wealthy residential area proved shrewd, and Luca Luca quickly attracted a growing clientele. On the wake of this success, Luca Luca opened its second boutique on Chicago’s Oak Street, the city’s most prestigious shopping street, in 1993.

In 1996, Luca Luca opened its flagship store on the corner of Madison Avenue and 62nd Street, and located its corporate offices, design team, and operations in the same elegant townhouse. All fabrication was done in Milan, with fabrics sourced from the best Italian mills. By locating the design team in New York’s fashionable Upper East Side and the fabrication in Milan, Luca Orlandi created a winning formula. Luca Luca rightfully earned its reputation for exceptional design, the finest fabrics, and superior craftsmanship. It won a clientele that displayed Luca Luca’s trademark features — sleek, feminine silhouettes, bold colors, and rich, sensuous fabrics — at society galas and red carpet events.

Becoming a Fashion Household Name

By 2004 Luca Luca operated eight boutiques located in some of the most prestigious retail locations in the US. These included Bal Harbour Shops in Miami, Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, and Highland Park Village in Dallas in addition to aforementioned Madison Avenue and Oak Street. When Luca Luca began showing its collections to the fashion industry and international media during New York’s Fashion Week, its runway shows became known for their celebrity-filled front row.

After marrying and welcoming the birth of his son, Orlandi decided to retire from the fashion industry. He appointed his protégé Raul Melgoza as creative director and sold the company to a group of investors in 2008. Orlandi also sold the townhouse, home of the Luca Luca flagship store, to Hermès.

“…this season [Fall / Winter 2009] will not disappoint the brand’s well-heeled fans, and if the quiet note-taking of New York’s social set was any indication, we’re certain Melgoza’s wool suits will be tucked into tables at uptown Parisian bistros and his cocktail frocks will be making appearances on the charity circuit come fall.”
—British Vogue (February 16, 2009)

A New Creative Director

Raul Melgoza received a degree from the University of Southern California and then attended Parsons School of Design where he graduated top of his class and was nominated Designer of the Year. Upon graduation in 2005, Melgoza joined Luca Luca where he worked closely with Orlandi and quickly rose to the position of Senior Designer.

Raul Melgoza built on the foundation established by Luca Orlandi, using the most exquisite fabrics and bold colors while adding his signature of detailed construction yet simplicity in shape and form. The collections were a hit with reviewers and customers alike and sales rose steadily.

“Luca Luca Draws Celebrity Crowd. A power bench of young Hollywood sat front and center at Luca Luca.”
—WSJ.com (September 9, 2011)

Restructuring

As part of the change in ownership, principals from The Equitium Group augmented the existing management team. Promptly, the workflow between design and production was restructured and procurement was brought in-house, resulting in lower production costs while improving the quality of the garments and decreasing the time-to-market.

By 2011, after only three years under Equitium leadership, Luca Luca was seeing the strongest results in the company’s history. Buoyed by such success, Luca Luca prepared an expansion plan to open more stores. However, the company’s owners were unable to support a growth plan. Equitium seized the opportunity and acquired Luca Luca in 2013 under terms that allowed it to remove legacy issues and relaunch the business after three years.

To view Luca Luca collections, please visit www.lucaluca.com.