The threat of dreadful weather couldn’t keep Dallas partiers down as they headed for Need headquarters to celebrate the brand’s second birthday. It also bears mentioning that there was more to toast than a simple anniversary.
Turns out founder Matt Alexander and his team have been busy busy: Need is now available in 43 countries — as opposed to just boring old United States and Canada — and its menswear collections now come out weekly as opposed to monthly.
Alexander says there also is a renewed focus on exclusives and collaborations — like the limited-run BucketFeet shoes hand-illustrated by Dallas-based artist Kyle Steed — and the company has upgraded its selling platform to accommodate the growth. Also on the horizon: international pop-up shops and in-store pickup at Unbranded, Alexander’s brainchild with fellow Dallas entrepreneur and Foot Cardigan co-founder Bryan DeLuca.
To ensure all of these developments were properly acknowledged — as well as the birthdays of Alexander and COO Imran Sheikh — Parliament poured drinks and Bowen House provided nibbles. Rise, Shopify, Oven Bits, and Brainspace also helped make the festivities possible so all those bearded fellows in skinny jeans could mingle with bootie-clad girls. Techno beats kept the fourth floor of 211 N. Ervay St. bumping.
Once that wrapped, Sheikh welcomed people to the brand-new Uptown lounge Citizen, of which he is a co-owner, for an after-party. Told you these guys were busy.
Eddie Fortuna, Angelee Fortuna
