LRG Clothing Founder, Jonas Bevacqua Is Dead!

LOS ANGELES — Jonas Bevacqua, who co-founded the popular street clothing brand LRG in 1999 and presided over its rapid rise as a major fashion force among young people, was found dead Tuesday. He was 34.

Orange County sheriff's officials said Bevacqua's body was found in his Laguna Beach home.
"There were no obvious signs of the cause of death," sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino told The Associated Press. He added that the county coroner would conduct an autopsy on today, Wednesday, June 1st.

A statement on Irvine-based LRG's website describes Bevacqua as a friend, partner, father and mentor.
"We ask that everyone keep his family in their hearts and prayers and respect their privacy in this time of incredible grief," the statement reads in part.

According to the company's Facebook page, Bevacqua and his business partner, Robert Wright, founded Lifted Research Group, known to patrons as LRG, with start-up capital raised in part from friends of Bevacqua's adoptive father.

Bevacqua had dropped out of college and moved back home with his parents when he met Wright while working as a DJ at Southern California clubs. The two sketched out some of their earliest fashion ideas in his bedroom.
Deeply influenced by Southern California's skateboard, surfing and hip hop culture, he said he and Wright began making clothes that reflected their interests but that no one else seemed to be providing.

By 2006, LRG had annual sales of $150 million and was named by Entrepreneur magazine as No. 5 on its list of that year's 500 fastest growing companies. Among its popular clothing lines are Luxirie, which targets 18- to 30-year-old women, offering clothing with Western and military themes, and items such as crystal-covered jeans.

Initially a clothing company, LRG has since branched out to include sales of electronic devices, music and other items. It described itself as a "creative lifestyle" company that attempts to reflect its founders' interests, not only in fashion but also environmental causes and other activities.

Bevacqua is survived by his mother, father, son, fiancee and seven siblings, according to the company's website.
***Info. provided by Huffpost***

D. Martez