Marc Ecko

Marc Louis Ecko (né Milecofsky; August 29, 1972) is an American fashion designer, entrepreneur, and artist.[1] He is the founder and Chief Creative Officer of fashion company Ecko Unlimited.[2] He also founded Complex magazine in 2002.[3]

Marc Ecko
Ecko in 2015
Born
Marc Louis Milecofsky

(1972-08-29) August 29, 1972
Livingston, New Jersey, U.S.
EducationRutgers University
Occupations
  • Fashion designer
  • artist
  • entrepreneur
Known forFounding Ecko Unltd. and Complex
SpouseAllison Rojas (m. 2000)
Children3

Early life

Milecofsky was born in New Jersey on August 29, 1972.[1] He was brought up with his twin Marci and an older sister, Shari, in suburban Lakewood, New Jersey, where his father was a pharmacist and his mother was a real estate broker.[4] In 1996, Milecofsky legally changed his name to Ecko; he had intended to use "Echo", a name he was known by at home, but since he wanted to build a brand out of the name and the name "Echo" was already taken, he settled on the alternate spelling.[5]

Ecko entered Rutgers University's School of Pharmacy in New Brunswick, New Jersey after high school. During his time in college he painted graffiti and practiced drawing, taking "Ecko" for his name. In his third year, the school's dean encouraged Ecko to take a year off and pursue art.

Career

In 1993, Ecko started Ecko Unltd. as a T-shirt company, with small investments from his sister and a friend, Seth Gerszberg. He traveled to Hong Kong to learn about the clothing industry. Early clients Spike Lee and Chuck D helped bring attention to his fledgling business, as did a Good Morning America segment that featured his T-shirt designs.[6] The company expanded further into hip-hop and skater styles, and began to sport a rhinoceros logo.[7]

Ecko's businesses have expanded to include Complex magazine, video and social gaming, and venture capital.

Ecko was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA); the youngest designer to do so.[8] Since 2010, he has been a member of the Emeritus Board.[9]

In 2008, he created the new jackets for the Iron Chefs on Iron Chef America.[10]

Personal life

Ecko is Jewish.[2][11] In 2000, Ecko married Allison Rojas. They have three children and live in Bernardsville, New Jersey.[1]

In 2011, Ecko started Unlimited Justice, a social activism campaign which opposed corporal punishment in U.S. schools.[12]

He has supported a number of charities and organisations, including raising money for the Tikva Children's Home in Odesa, Ukraine.[2]

Published work

On October 1, 2013, Ecko released an autobiographical business book, Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out, which offers advice on entrepreneurship and personal branding.[13]

See also

References
  1. "Marc Ecko Biography - life, family, children, parents, name, story, school, young, born, husband, time - Newsmakers Cumulation". Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  2. "'Gotta Be Cool': Marc Ecko's Empire". Nick Rozon. ABC Nightline. September 12, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  3. Andrew Flanagan (April 23, 2018). "Marc Ecko, Complex Media Co-Founder, on His Company After Verizon and Digital Media in the Facebook Age: Q&A". Billboard.
  4. Ecko, Marc, Unlabel : selling you without selling out, Haberkorn, Todd, 1982-, Grand Haven, Michigan, ISBN 978-1-4805-3877-1, OCLC 862813009, retrieved July 31, 2020
  5. Lubow, Arthur; Chessum, Jake (March 1, 2009). "It's Going to Be Big". Inc. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  6. Good Morning America segment featuring Ecko's t-shirt designs Archived October 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Romero, Elena, 1973- (2012) [2012]. Free stylin' : how hip hop changed the fashion industry. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-313-38647-3. OCLC 798820497.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. "Marc Ecko Collection Clothes - Clothing & Accessories by Marc Ecko Collection". March 16, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  9. Sterlacci, Francesca (2017). Historical dictionary of the fashion industry. ISBN 978-1-4422-3908-1. OCLC 969368326.
  10. Appetit, Bon (November 14, 2008). "The Foodist: Food News and Trends - Bon Appétit". Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  11. "It's Going to Be Big". Arthur Lubow. Inc. March 1, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  12. "Fashion Designer Launches Campaign To End Corporal Punishment In Schools". HuffPost. March 9, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  13. Marc Eckō, Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out, Simon & Schuster, New York, NY, 2013. ISBN 978-1-4516-8530-5
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