Frank Mechaly
Frank Mechaly | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 9, 1975 Marseille, France |
| Occupation(s) | Denim designer, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of 575 DENIM (May75), Sacred Blue, Blue Cult, RockStar |
Frank Mechaly (born May 9, 1975) is a renowned French designer and entrepreneur specializing in high-end denim apparel. He has developed multiple labels such as Sacred Blue and Blue Cult, but is primarily recognized for establishing 575 DENIM (currently known as May75), a brand favored by celebrities including Cameron Diaz, who praised the jeans during an appearance on Saturday Night Live. More recently, Mechaly launched RockStar, a new line of premium denim.
Family Background
Originating from Marseille, France and raised in Saint-Tropez, Mechaly hails from a family with a strong connection to the denim industry. His grandfather was responsible for importing Levi's jeans into Morocco during the 1950s. His father, David Mechaly, created and produced the influential 1970s premium denim brand MacKeen, which competed globally with Levi's and established offices in the United States. Notably, MacKeen jeans were worn by the original cast of Charlie's Angels—a coincidental link as Cameron Diaz starred in the contemporary remake donning Frank’s 575 DENIM. Additionally, Frank’s mother, Cathy Mechaly, served as the initial fit model for MacKeen.
Early Life
Mechaly’s enthusiasm for denim design was sparked during childhood visits to his father’s manufacturing facility. He recalls lying amid stacks of fresh denim fabric, captivated by its unique aroma and certain that he wanted to dedicate his life to crafting jeans. As a youngster, he experimented with leftover denim pieces at the factory. However, when he was nine years old, financial setbacks forced his father’s business to close, resulting in a transition from private education and comfort to public schooling and modest living.
Adolescence
At age 15, Frank left school and relocated to St. Tropez at 16, where he worked in retail clothing outlets. He started acquiring vintage Levi’s jeans to resell for profit and eventually opened his own vintage store. Regular trips to Rouen enabled him to source large quantities of jeans, military shirts, and football jerseys that he restored and sold.
By 18, he was freelancing as a designer for brands such as Blanc Bleu, H.Landers, D.D.P., along with his own Texola label. He also founded Culture Couture and went on to design the inaugural collection for Seven7 jeans in 2003.
Adulthood
In 1999, David Mechaly moved to Los Angeles to launch a new denim venture. Frank sent samples of Culture Couture pieces which led to production in the U.S. under the new name Blue Cult due to trademark restrictions. Frank relocated to America but after a short period of estrangement followed by reconciliation with his father to promote Sacred Blue, he departed from the company in 2004 without retaining any ownership.
Motivated by a personal relationship, Frank remained in the U.S. and introduced 575 DENIM in mid-2004. Maurice Marciano, CEO of Guess, Inc., endorsed him by commissioning private label apparel production after admiring Frank’s expertise in vintage-inspired distressed jeans.
575 DENIM
The debut year of 575 DENIM was marked by significant success and attracted celebrity attention—most notably from Cameron Diaz who purchased and publicly wore the jeans without any endorsement agreement. Despite this early popularity, Levi Strauss & Co. initiated legal action against the brand by late 2004.
LEVI STRAUSS & Co. vs. Frank Mechaly
Levi Strauss initiated legal action against Frank Mechaly and Jeanius Corporation, alleging that their 500 series jeans were infringed upon. Mechaly explained that the name 575 DENIM was derived from his birthdate (May 9, 1975) and intended to establish a distinct identity through numerical branding.
The protracted three-year legal battle significantly disrupted Mechaly’s business, resulting in a 90% loss of revenue and forcing him to lay off his entire workforce of 300 employees. By 2007, with resources exhausted, he agreed to a settlement that mandated changing the brand name from 575 DENIM to MAY75 within twelve months.
RockStar
Following this, Frank Mechaly introduced a new label called RockStar, supported by his associate Richard Koral. This brand centers on luxury denim, dresses, and shirts, prioritizing exceptional fabric quality, fit, and design. RockStar sources premium materials from Europe and Japan but carries out all manufacturing and marketing activities domestically in the United States, employing American labor instead of outsourcing to China. This approach guarantees rigorous quality control and preserves the brand’s authenticity. Mechaly aims to establish RockStar as a premier name in upscale fashion denim.