Apolis: Common Gallery
Apolis founders and brothers Raan and Shea Parton
Downtown Los Angeles has been on the brink — the culinary scene’s shifted from hole-in-the-wall ramen restaurants to becoming a hotbed for culinary experimentation, streetwear labels that have thrived in the area are now rubbing elbows with fashion heavy hitters and the Silverlake crowd is expanding beyond their borders to explore the heart of the city. One more thing that Downtown can brag about is the opening of the Apolis: Common Gallery, the first standalone store for the growing brand with a focus on global ethics and menswear with a message.
Apolis’ founders, Raan and Shea Parton, grew up in Santa Barbara and went to school in San Diego, so they’re Southern California boys through and through. But instead of the laid-back surf culture that so many menswear brands from SoCal embrace, Apolis has taken a turn towards more tailored staples and American classics while eschewing the nostalgia and prep-fantasy that other labels have concentrated on. More in the vein of French label A.P.C, fellow Cali boy Phillip Lim or NY-transplants Marcus Wainwright and David Neville of Rag & Bone, Apolis embraces clean tailoring, modern proportions and clothes that guys can wear while they’re at work or at play.
Apolis: Common Gallery
The Common Gallery is the only place that you’ll find the full range of Apolis’ offerings, which includes staples such as shirting, suiting and accessories along with leather goods, a special Los Angeles canvas tote bag and small accessories such as wallets and belts. That all sounds fine, but the story behind the brand runs deep in every collection. Apolis partners with communities all around the country and utilizes each area’s workers and local materials. Ugandan farmers (the African nation has had the longest-running partnership with Apolis) supply the cotton for the brand’s briefcases, which are produced in collaboration with Filson. Around the world, Apolis has partnered with over 15 different communities and the brand’s name translates to “global citizen,” driving the point home even further. Each project uses textiles and skills from each are for a unique item that’s not only exclusive to Apolis, but to the entire world of menswear.
Apolis: Common Gallery
The brand’s look might seem stuffy to some, but the clothing is all designed with traveling in mind. Brother Shea handles the brand’s operations, while Raan focuses his work on the clothing. Luggage was recently added to the line as well as a few softer pieces, such as hoodies and swim trunks, giving their guy something to throw on no matter his destination.
Shea and Raan hope that the Common Gallery itself becomes a destination for their customer base as well. In addition to being a retail operation, the brand’s corporate offices are on-site, but the biggest draw might just be the speaker series that the brothers have organized. The duo hope that the space brings the community together with discussions on global trade, small business and communities both near and far.
For more information and a schedule of speakers, visit the brand’s Web site at www.apolisglobal.com.
The Apolis: Common Gallery is located at 806 East Third Street, in Downtown Los Angeles.
Images courtesy Apolis.
