NEW YORK — Op threw an opening party at its new showroom here earlier this month, a 6,000-square-foot space in the same building as its parent, Warnaco Group.
Among those mingling in the crowd was Gary Hunt, Op’s president of apparel, who will oversee the design and sales of Op swimwear and sportswear in the U.S. His is a new position at the company.
“We are transitioning from a licensing model to an in-house model and repositioning the brand a little higher,” said Hunt, who has held executive positions at Driven Concepts, Pacific Sunwear, Pepe Jeans and Globe International. “We are becoming a lifestyle brand in the better market. It’s an exciting time for the company.”
Among other executives on hand were Op president Dick Baker; Stanley Silverstein, Warnaco’s executive vice president of corporate development; Frank Tworecke, president of sportswear at Warnaco, and Sun Choe, Op’s vice president of merchandising and design.
The showroom has wood decor, bright colors and beachy touches, such as coral reefs and strategically placed surfboards to convey Op’s brand image. It houses a range of Op’s products, including swimwear and apparel, and there are separate rooms for women’s and men’s products. The company makes apparel and swimwear in-house, but some categories, such as accessories and children’s products, are produced under license.