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Brian Lichtenberg
Brian Lichtenberg
Nationality	American
Labels	Brian Lichtenberg; BLTEE;

Brian Lichtenberg is an American fashion designer^[1]^[2] and founder-creator of the label Brian Lichtenberg, and the streetwear brand BLTEE.^[3]

Career

Lichtenberg began designing in summer 2000.^[3] His clothes are sold through specialty boutiques and top department stores in Los Angeles, London, Paris and Milan.^[2]

In September 2013 he made his first New York Fashion Week presentation at Pier 59 for his Spring-Summer 2014 collection.^[4] His second presentation was held on 9 February 2014 at The Hub, in The Hudson Hotel.^[5]

Parody sportswear

In 2006, Lichtenberg designed the "BRIANEL No. 1" T-shirt, the first a line of T-shirts, sweatshirts and other sportswear garments bearing logos that parodied those of major established brands such as Chanel (Brianel), Balmain (Ballin), and Hermès (Homiès).^[6] They have been seen on celebrities such as Miley Cyrus.^[7]

In 2013, Lichtenberg designed a line of sweatshirts similar to American football jerseys for the Los-Angeles based boutique Kitson, but with the names of pharmaceutical drugs "Adderall", "Vicodin" and "Xanax" across the backs at shoulder level with a two-digit-number.^[8] They were advertised with the slogan "Pop one on and you'll feel better, just what the doctor ordered", and were criticised for trivializing prescription drug abuse and mental illness.^[8]^[9] The drug companies also threatened to sue unless the shirts were taken off the market, and the Partnership at Drugfree.org charity released a statement disassociating themselves from the line and refusing to accept any direct donations of funds raised through the shirt sales.^[10]^[11]

Lichtenberg released a statement saying:

I have created a collection of t-shirts that are a parody of pop culture. This particular collection of prescription tee's is simply a commentary on what I see happening in our society. Call it what you may, but art in all forms is created off of pop culture and the social situations that surround it. A large percentage of Americans are prescribed these drugs by doctors everyday for legitimate reasons . These are not illegal substances. These tee's are not meant to encourage prescription drug abuse, but if they open the door to a much needed dialogue, as they seem to be doing now, then mission accomplished.^[12]

Performance costumes

Lichtenberg has worked closely with a number of singers and rappers on their performance attire. Among his best known designs are Lady Gaga's crime scene tape outfit for the music video to Telephone,^[13] and Katy Perry's scuba-inspired 'Freakum' dress from 3OH!3's Starstrukk video.^[14] His hologrammatic leggings became a signature stage look for the rapper M.I.A. at the time of her successful 2007 song Paper Planes. At one point M.I.A. was wearing his designs almost exclusively.^[13] Other singers who have worked with him for their performance costumes include Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj,^[13] and he counts Kanye West, Peaches, Ciara, Yelle, Ke$ha and Keri Hilson among his clients.^[14] His more mainstream designs, including one-shouldered minidresses, have been worn by celebrities such as Shakira, Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian.^[13]

Lawsuit

In September 2013, Lichtenberg filed a US$100 million lawsuit in Federal Court in Los Angeles against his brother Christopher and other parties, alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition and defamation among other claims.^[15] In reporting on the lawsuit, Vanity Fair described Lichtenberg as "sort of like the Weird Al Yankovic of fashion designers".^[16]