Marc Ecko

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Marc Ecko (born: Marc Milecofsky[1]) is a Jewish fashion designer and entrepreneur, born in New Jersey in 1972. He started selling t-shirts in the mid 1980s, and founded his clothing brand ecko in 1993. Marc Ecko Enterprises has grown to include 12 separate *ecko unltd. apparel and accessories lines, the contemporary Marc Ecko “Cut & Sew” collection, G-Unit Clothing Company, Zoo York, Avirex Sportswear, Complex magazine, and Marc Ecko Entertainment, a full service production company, with a focus on interactive entertainment. In 2004, Marc Ecko Enterprises reported international sales of approximately $1 billion[2]. The Company also recently signed a deal with MTV Films for the film adaptation of Marc Ecko's first videogame project, "Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure" [3].

Ecko has been included in New York Magazine’s “Influentials” list [4], Details list of “Most Powerful Men Under 38” [5], DNR’s “Power 100 List” [6], Crain’s New York Business “40 Under 40” list[7], and JVibe magazine's "Hot List" [8].

Over the years, Ecko has also dedicated himself to a number of socially conscious initiatives, including significant work with underprivileged youth [9], and a dedicated role in reversing the plight of the world's rhino population [10]. In 2005, the San Diego Zoo named a baby Indian rhino after the designer in honor of his work with the International Rhino Foundation [11], and in June 2006 he hosted the second annual "Save the Rhinos" benefit concert in New York's Central Park [12]. In October 2006, Marc Ecko purchased two white rhinos being auctioned by a private zoo going out of business in the Catskills, saving them the likely fate of being purchased by Texas canned hunt operators (canned hunts are still legal in that State) and being shot by paying visitors. [13]

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[edit] Air Force One

In April 2006, Ecko released a video[14] depicting himself applying graffiti to the left wing engine of Air Force One. The video, directed by ad director Randy Krallman, was a hoax, and was created "to induce you, the viewer of the video, to think critically about freedom of expression and speech and the government's responses to the same." [15] However, others dismissed it as a publicity stunt [16].

[edit] New York City Graffiti Law Suit

In April 2006, Ecko backed seven young graffiti artists who filed a lawsuit against New York City, over its anti-graffiti law (introduced by Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr.) banning under-21s from possessing spray paint or broad-tipped markers.[17] Ecko's lawyer Daniel Perez acted as counsel for the plaintiffs.[18] In May 2006, District Judge George B. Daniels put in place a temporary injunction preventing the City from enforcing that law [19]. Judge Daniels said the legislation is "like telling me I can eat an apple, but I can’t buy an apple, no one can sell me an apple and I can’t bring it to work for lunch.” In June 2006, the Federal appeals court upheld Daniels' decision.[20] Ecko said "The motif of graffiti is one that has the right to exist credibly, and it is great to see the courts make a distinction between illegal vandalism and the motif of legal graffiti as a legitimate art form that cannot be pushed aside by legislators." [21]

[edit] New York City Graffiti Block Party

On August 23, 2005, Marc Ecko won the right in Federal court to hold a free outdoor graffiti art exhibition in New York City after the city tried to revoke a previously issued permit for the event [22]. The event, held on August 22nd, 2005, featured ten 48-foot-long by 8-foot-high replicas of the legendary NYC transit Redbird subway cars, transformed into contemporary urban works of art by renowned graffiti writers, including PINK, T-KID, DASH, WEST, CES, SONIC, IZ THE WIZ , MIN, DURO, WANE, WEN, DERO, CYCLE, SMITH, DOC, KEL 1st, MARE139, CRASH, DAZE, GHOST, and TATS CREW.

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[edit] See also

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