Like a superhero, A. Halford, the Los Angeles-based designer of 69, likes to keep her (or his) true identity under wraps. It ensures that the clothes are gender-neutral, fluid, and open to interpretation. Many of A. Halford’s designs reimagine classic silhouettes—jumpers, hoodies, T-shirts—in denim form, which brings to mind summer at the baseball diamond, popsicle stands, and other visions of American nostalgia. It’s “relatable,” A. Halford said to me last week in an interview. Check out our conversation below:
Shop all 69 HERE
AUSTEN ROSENFELD: Can you tell me how you started 69?
A. HALFORD: Well, it started as an idea. [Laughs] An idea to have an all-denim line for boys and girls, and it sort of remained that way until I added kids stuff and dog stuff. But, basically it’s meant to be for everyone. It started as unisex, but I like to think it’s non-demographic.
Since you mentioned denim, what made you interested in working with that material?
Just because it’s this material that is completely comfortable and utilitarian and completely practical for everyone and it never goes out of style. However, at the time, I felt as though there weren’t enough silhouettes represented in the material. And I just thought that was missing somehow.
Denim isn’t known for being a super comfortable fabric––but your clothes look like you could either sleep in them or go hiking in them. How do you achieve that with the fabric?
It’s stonewashed. I wanted each piece to feel unique and the stonewashing does that in fact. No two pieces are exactly alike. And, I wanted it to feel worn-in. I feel like a lot of denim is very stiff and you’re sort of left to make it as soft as you want it over time. But I want it to feel as if that’s already done for you.
I know the label 69 is supposed to be a reference to the astrology sign for Cancer. Do you feel like you are emblematic of the Cancer sign?
Personally, yes. I think I am. But that’s a secret. [Laughs]
What are the personality traits of Cancers? Do you feel like that comes into play when you’re designing clothes?
We are the mothers of the zodiac and we are nurturers, basically. There’s a long list of adjectives and traits, but mostly it’s just that. l feel as though I’m protecting and making everyone feel comfortable. So, yeah you could interpret that [in the clothing]. In a non-gender way.
Can you tell me about the subtle athletic inspiration for the Spring/Summer 2014 collection? For instance, the baseball-inspired shirt. Do you follow sports?
Not at all. It was just a silhouette. I mean, I think it’s a really beautiful silhouette. I thought it should be represented in denim. Not that it hasn’t been before. I just figured that was something that needed to be part of the ongoing catalog that’s being built. It was more about including these very popular specific silhouettes.
Do you have a favorite thing to do in Los Angeles?
Not really. I like to do a lot of stuff. I mean, personally, I like to hang out with my dog. But that’s super irrelevant.
What kind of dog?
I have a hairless dog. She’s everything.
What’s her name?
Abigail.
S
Shop all 69 HERE
AUSTEN ROSENFELD: Can you tell me how you started 69?
A. HALFORD: Well, it started as an idea. [Laughs] An idea to have an all-denim line for boys and girls, and it sort of remained that way until I added kids stuff and dog stuff. But, basically it’s meant to be for everyone. It started as unisex, but I like to think it’s non-demographic.
Since you mentioned denim, what made you interested in working with that material?
Just because it’s this material that is completely comfortable and utilitarian and completely practical for everyone and it never goes out of style. However, at the time, I felt as though there weren’t enough silhouettes represented in the material. And I just thought that was missing somehow.
Denim isn’t known for being a super comfortable fabric––but your clothes look like you could either sleep in them or go hiking in them. How do you achieve that with the fabric?
It’s stonewashed. I wanted each piece to feel unique and the stonewashing does that in fact. No two pieces are exactly alike. And, I wanted it to feel worn-in. I feel like a lot of denim is very stiff and you’re sort of left to make it as soft as you want it over time. But I want it to feel as if that’s already done for you.
I know the label 69 is supposed to be a reference to the astrology sign for Cancer. Do you feel like you are emblematic of the Cancer sign?
Personally, yes. I think I am. But that’s a secret. [Laughs]
What are the personality traits of Cancers? Do you feel like that comes into play when you’re designing clothes?
We are the mothers of the zodiac and we are nurturers, basically. There’s a long list of adjectives and traits, but mostly it’s just that. l feel as though I’m protecting and making everyone feel comfortable. So, yeah you could interpret that [in the clothing]. In a non-gender way.
Can you tell me about the subtle athletic inspiration for the Spring/Summer 2014 collection? For instance, the baseball-inspired shirt. Do you follow sports?
Not at all. It was just a silhouette. I mean, I think it’s a really beautiful silhouette. I thought it should be represented in denim. Not that it hasn’t been before. I just figured that was something that needed to be part of the ongoing catalog that’s being built. It was more about including these very popular specific silhouettes.
Do you have a favorite thing to do in Los Angeles?
Not really. I like to do a lot of stuff. I mean, personally, I like to hang out with my dog. But that’s super irrelevant.
What kind of dog?
I have a hairless dog. She’s everything.
What’s her name?
Abigail.
S