Representing the BRAVE in the form of fashion is MILIFIDEL, an up and coming clothing line designed with HONOR in mind. Milifidel stems to make its impact through the core focus of dedicating the entire brand to the men and women of the US Military. It’s their way of appreciating the sacrifices all our service members have given. That’s actually an understatement. In fact, 3 out of the 4 partners have served our country honorably in the US Military Armed Forces -- Andrew (US Army Air Defense); Jeremy (US Army Scout); Jordan (US Army Ranger Sniper). Rounding out the four is their business entrepreneur, Andy.

The CAUSE of Milifidel is catching on, with celebrities and athletes contributing to help promote their message. Kim Delaney of “Army Wives” (Lifetime Channel), Rachel Fine (music artist & host on Howard Stern’s The Bonus Show), and support from MMA fighters “has helped to solidify Milifidel as a brand to watch out for in the future” says partner/founder Andrew. Milifidel launched in Canada, with their distributors in the north and their Canadian partner. Also in attendance was UFC Fighter, James McSweeney, who signed on with the clothing line. At the launch party, they promoted Milifidel’s McSweeney Special Edition T with fans. You can also find La-Femme by Milifidel, their women’s line, at retailers and online at www.milifidelstore.com.

Recently, Partner and Founder Andrew J., tells Mateo Magazine the inspiration and passion behind the clothing.

Mateo Magazine: What makes you so passionate about Milifidel?
Andrew: I’m a prior US ARMY service member, and 90% of my family is or was at some time serving their country – all my Grand Parents (2 in WWII & One in Korea), my Dad [who] was in Viet Nam, and my uncle, Joey, who did not make it back! Unless you have served in one of our armed forces you cannot understand or appreciate that common bond we all share.

With so many brands out there, what made you decide to create Milifidel?
My partners and I thought that it was time to PAY HOMAGE (“PAY RESPECT”) to our troops – current, past, and future! We want to let the troops know that the freedoms we take for granted every day and the sacrifices they make are not in vain.

The way we are paying Homage is by aligning with the West LA Fisher House (www.westlafisherhouse.org), a Veterans’ charity organization. “There’s no place like home,” said Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. This may be true, but the West Los Angeles Fisher House Foundation has strived to create a “home away from home” for Veterans’ families. The Fisher House is a free place for Veterans’ families to stay while their loved one is undergoing care at the VA facility. It provides the families some of the comforts of a home such as home cooked meals, a garden, and a library. In addition, they can bond and empathize with other families experiencing the same emotions. Meanwhile, the Veteran also benefits by having the physical and emotional support of his/her family during treatment. What better way to do that than to create an apparel line with a purpose and meaning behind it. [From that], Milifidel was born. Like our motto says -- “ REAL PEOPLE –REAL CLOTHING”

What challenges did you encounter?
The normal Ups and Downs. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into! How much work it took to go from conception of a design to a full ready to market production piece – that’s a lot of work! Then having to find the right designers – especially ones who believe in our vision. Afterwards, starting a network of vendors to produce the product - that is fun, let me tell you. Finally of course having to work on our social media campaign, which is a major tool in today’s business. I believe that no matter what you’re selling, a product or service, Social Media is a valuable asset to have. It’s not just having it – it’s knowing how to use it to maximize its potential. We had to learn quickly. We even got screwed over a couple of times. Luckily, we had help from some great vendors, designers, and through my cousin, who was a big help.

Did you ever feel like giving up?
NO! FAILURE WAS NOT AN OPTION! We had come to far to give up now. Reminds me of the Military saying – NEVER RETREAT, NEVER SURRENDER!

What can we look forward to with Milifidel?
Milifidel in 2011 is working on a lot of new ventures. This will be a banner year for Milifidel. You can bet on in! We have a full marketing campaign to deploy our Million Dollar Mission to raise money and awareness for the charity we are aligned with the West LA Fisher House (http://www.westlafisherhouse.org/). This is the other main reason we started Milifidel – so we could walk the walk and talk to talk! Milifidel will be available in a variety of retail stores and will be announcing partnerships with at least 2 overseas distributors, one in Australia and the other in the UK. We are also proud to have 6 PRO MMA fighters joining the MILIFIDEL SOLDIERS roster and will begin sponsoring some other extreme sports and some artists in the music industry.


MILIFIDEL BIO:
Milifidel is a unique brand that pays homage to the service and bravery of the U.S. Military, past and present. Forged from the Latin –Militias (Military) and Fidelitas (Loyalty) – it honors the courage and sacrifice that the men and women of our Military have devoted to our country. PAY HOMAGE!

Milifidel incorporates original works of art on each garment produced, and they are crafted from the finest fabrics. Each article of clothing is carefully distressed, dyed, stained, and washed to ensure its distinction. Our design, production and fabrics are held to the highest standards.

Milifidel proceeds are donated to the West Los Angeles Fischer House Foundation that supports the veterans of our armed forces. Milifidel goal is to raise 1 Million dollars for the West Los Angeles Fischer House Foundation. You can feel proud that with each purchase, you give back to our military and our freedom.