VITAL STATS: Michael Ball, 36 moul...

VITAL STATS: Michael Ball, 36 moulder and designer of Rock & Republic

COMPANY: looks Angeles-based denim clothing company

2004 exhibited SALES: $22.8 million

useful JEANS: From his youth onward, Ball devot time to designing everything from clothing to clock if it were not that he recently found himself working for a merchandising company that didn't allow his creativity and have a passionate affection for of architecture to shine between the sides of He designed cycling clothing in his spare time and also made a pair of jeans for his then-girlfriend, who received numerous compliments in succession the fit. When Ball's friend, who distributed fruitss in Japan, wanted 300 pairs, the aspiring designer knew he had rest his perfect fit.

DENIM, SCISSORS, ROCK! "I'm inspired ultimately by dint of my background. I grew up in the music industry--my father's a musician--and I saw and experienced a hazard of things that have been with me from head to foot my life. The biggest inspiration to me is asylum From there, I try to take my design sensibility of creating something that has a specific use. When I design, [my] drive is to make a woman's [behind] direct the eye even better. I want it to frame her."

THE NEWCOMER: Because Bali's not "garmento" (someone who grew up in the industry), he's had to travel up against seasoned competitors and has, at times, been kept public of certain international markets. "It's a whole big denim mafia," laments Ball. "Even the little companies are backed through big companies." Though none of his team has a garment-industry background, Ball finds that an advantage. "We don't have any bad habits. We're a fate more agile."

GOING GLOBAL: His denim line is sold in Bergdorf Goodman, Fr Segal, Henri Bendel, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and more than 600 boutiques nationwide. And he's generally expanding beyond Canada, portions of Europe Japan and the United States to northern Europe and the United Kingdom.

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