ALPHA, THE PREMIER MEN’S LIFESTYLE SHOP
Alpha remains the ultimate one-stop shop for gifts – and with the launch of a new web site for 2011, we are to become the only online resource you will need for men, boys, and men who still think like boys.
Alpha: Gear for Gents– Alpha remains the ultimate one-stop shop for gifts – and is proudly launching a new website at alpha-man.com for 2011. Founded in 2004 by style makers Darren Gold and Christos Garkinos (of decadestwo1) as an all-encompassing men’s lifestyle store highlighting the best of the best; from candles to cashmere, grooming products to gadgets, water bottles to wayfarers and everything in between. The well-edited selection of both whimsical and practical items with price points for every budget meets the specific male challenges of how to love, groom, learn, look, home and entertain. Alpha is the go to resource for guy’s gifts in Los Angeles…and worldwide via www.alpha-man.com. Alpha has been featured in Vanity Fair, GQ, People Stylewatch, The LA Times, Travel+Leisure, The New York Post, the Advocate, Lucky, People and remains on GQ’s Top 100 stores list as well as GQ.com’s top 10 web sites for holiday shopping 2010
Alpha continues to bring in the high quality basic clothing it has become known for as well as books, gadgets and more “big boy” toys to satisfy the men and the ladies who love them. The selection includes items like telescopes, board games, like The Godfather Trivia Game, internet radios and ipod/iPad accessories…and so much more. Also featured are fun and nostalgic classics like erector sets, remote control helicopters, air hockey games, balsa wood flyers and even Frank Lloyd Wright Lego sets.
Owner, Darren Gold
Darren has been the strategic centerpiece behind many creative businesses. Most recently Darren is a co-founder of Alpha, a go-to emporium for guys in Los Angeles. Previously, Darren was a partner in Mhope, a high-end women's fashion line which retailed at the likes of Fred Segal, Saks Fifth Avenue, Takashimaya, and American Rag amongst others. Before founding Mhope, Darren was in charge of operations at style365.com, a high end fashion and lifestyle web site. Darren was involved in all aspects of discovering, editing, and formatting the most stylish web sites for inclusion in style365's "gold pages" Yahoo-like directory.
At only 27, Darren produced, sold, and marketed the independent film, ALL OF IT, which starred Lesley Ann Warren and was seen on Lifetime Television in the United States. Before producing independently, Darren was an executive at a DreamWorks based film production company. Darren went to USC's Peter Stark Motion Picture Producing MFA program and Boston University's College of Communication.
Darren currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Avenues: Art. Fashion, Design District West Hollywood, a business improvement district of high end boutiques, galleries, and showrooms. Darren has also served on the Board of Directors of The Coalition of Los Angeles Designers and The Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council. As President of CLAD, Darren has been responsible for scouting out the newest LA design talent, producing fashion shows and PR events for the group, and furthering its mission to share resources and heighten the awareness of LA based Design. Darren is the founding Vice President of the HHWNC where he organized community based government for a population of 40,000 stakeholders.
Darren has been featured in Vanity Fair, GQ, DNR, Angeleno, Distinction, Los Angeles, LA Direct, the Hollywood Reporter, and on the TV Guide channel as well as featured in Women's Wear Daily as one of five "players" in the LA fashion scene. Along with all of this, Darren is also a frequent guest host on the radio show Fashion 411, where he has interviewed such fashion luminaries as Kelly Cutrone and Cameron Silver. To top that off, Darren is also a west coast fashion contributor for British Vogue online.
Darren was born in New York, raised in Michigan, and has lived in LA for 14 years (10 with his dog, Lola)
