Founded: 1991
Founder: Alex Berenson, Gregg Ostrow & Dusty Cohen
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Kik Wear (Kikwear) was founded in Los Angeles in 1991 by three friends, Alex Berenson, Gregg Ostrow and Dusty Cohen. Kikwear’s first releases were actually long boxer shorts that were made in Cohen’s home.  Over the next year or so they moved in to a full line of mens wear.  With the help of the legendary Doze, they created the Chucky mascot character and released a wide range of tee designs featuring him.  Chucky was a Jamaican Rasta character that was often smoking blunts and generally “kicking back” (kicking back => Kikwear…)

By the mid 90s, Kikwear had fully embraced the rave scene and became one of the most respected brands to offer wide leg “phat pants”  As wide leg pant brands competed to release the widest legs and use the most unexpected fabrics and textiles, Kikwear was one of the first to push the limits to the ultimate extreme with their 69″ leg opening pants, offered in different materials, including demin and others.

Kik Wear grew fast in the mid to late 90s, spinning off a full line of female clothing called Kik Girl and acquiring brands like Greed Garments and Greed Girl as their international reach grew.  They even had a footwear brand.

Over the years, they have relaunched the brand (2013 and it’s current iteration that began in 2024).

Kikwear was prominent in the rave and underground scene, but crossed over into mainstream pop culture with placement in TV shows, movies and music videos. They had a expanses range of celebrity brand ambassadors that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, George Clooney, Robert DeNiro, Carson Daly, Limp Bizkit, 311, Perry Ferrell, TLC, Black Eyed Peas, and UK’s DJ Rap.

Contributing Members: @mrthingone