Q. Ben Warwick
A. Michael Pino

Please state who you are and your role with Acropolis Apparel.

Acropolis was established in Los Angeles, California MMVII. My name is Michael and I’m the founder.

Tell us about the brand and how it began.

The concept behind Acropolis is a fusion of classic image and thought with modern culture to create meaningful concepts. The name is a metaphor for greatness and a reflection of the splendor, power and wealth of an advanced society.

The company was started with a clear concept, large ambition and a small loan. At first, I made shirts and gave them to my friends, fam and hit up some local stores. We’ve since grown steadily and are now carried throughout the US as well as internationally.

Who makes up the Acropolis team?

Dennis O’Neil and Mike Amedeo are the head graphic designers, Danny Micalleti heads up all sales and Katie Painter handles the website. Everyone plays a vital role and I cannot thank them enough for all they have done.

On your website it’s mentioned that the word Acropolis means “city at the top”. Do you feel that you have reached the top of your success? If not, what else do you anticipate to accomplish with your brand?

We hope to not only put Acropolis on the map, but to leave our mark in the game. People say that Kobe’s just now reaching his peak…in his 13th season. We understand that there’s a long road ahead of us but to quote Confucius, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Acropolis is inspired by street fashion from LA and Southern Cali. How have you seen streetwear change over the years? How have these changes inspired your graphics?

Streetwear is growing rapidly and as a result the genre has been watered down. You can see the same ideas going around, it’s just getting stagnant due to a lack of creativity. Obviously there are companies out there that are the exception, but for the most part I see a lot of recycled thought. At Acropolis, we take pride not only in our imagery but also in the thought and concepts behind each design. Fusing the old with the new allows for creativity, symbolism, metaphors and eye-catching images in a style we’ve yet to see elsewhere.

Acropolis designs fuse ancient historical ideology with contemporary society. The Julius t-shirt, for example, brings together an NBA basketball star of the 1970’s and a Roman military and political leader. How was this concept conceived?

The idea of Ancient Remains…Modern Beginnings is that we take old, broken down, eroding elements and breathe new life into them by incorporating modern concepts. The results are unique concepts, like our new Julius piece. It’s a blending of the past with the modern to create something new and fresh. Although they were men of entirely different civilizations, Caesar & Erving were both respected, influential leaders with a flare for the dramatic.

You recently released a third collection consisting of five graphic t-shirts. Why only five?

There‘s actually 8 mens and 4 womens designs in our upcoming collection. Maybe only 5 made it over to you, my apologies. This year we’re also releasing exclusive prints available only at AcropolisApparel.com as well as a new line of hats, some collabs and a few other surprises we have in the works…

How does this line differ from the earlier two?

Personally, I feel that the new line is our best to date. It’s the result of learning, evolving and continuing to grow.

Being a relatively new brand, founded in 2007, you have come into an already established market with numerous streetwear brands already at the forefront. How does Acropolis set itself apart from some of these competitors?

Acropolis represents greatness. We promote improvement, whether it’s one person or society as a whole, and hope to convey a message of progress and achievement. We hope to inspire all those seeking to reach higher levels.

With the growing concern for the planet, many fashion brands are launching eco-friendly lines. What are your thoughts on this growing niche market and does Acropolis have any plans to develop an organic line in the future?

At the moment we don’t have an eco-friendly line but we’re not opposed to it by any means. “Green is the new black”, so when we speak next time it might be regarding our premier eco-line collection.

Who is Acropolis’ biggest competitor?

We are. Everyone wants fly clothing that represents their style and individuality. It’s up to us to keep raising our game to ensure that we don’t get stagnant. We focus on always thinking outside the box, bringing the creativity, thought and style to create unique designs that people feel.

What does the future hold of Acropolis?

The future holds what we make of it. We’re always looking for creative outlets and are making some moves behind-the-scenes to add to the brand and diversify the collection. We’re confident in our concept and we feel the sky’s the limit.
Peace & Respect

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