ABOUT US

Gilbert & Lewis are the alter egos of New York based designer Jose Abellar and his main squeeze and collaborator of 20 years, David Ayala. The line presents men's fashion with a modern approach and a vintage twist. G & L pays homage to decades of cinematic characters with unique style and all-american roots -- from the films of John Hughes to the original brat-pack.  Our collection has a unique point of reference distilled from a love of travel, vintage fashion, science fiction- and the entire  run of television’s Green Acres, where high-fashion met functional plaids.

Jose Abellar, has been creating since he was a child in the Philippines. At an early age, his design sense lead to a line of papier-mâché fashion accessories- to the dismay of his classmates who were making more traditional projects like airplanes and semi-automatic weapons. After leaving Asia for San Francisco, as a curious 11 year old, Jose absorbed every aspect of his adopted culture and this period of 80's discovery became a constant reference in his creative point-of-view. Armed with a pencil and a penchant for teen film, pop music and Style with Elsa Klensch, Jose created his own design curriculum through high school. Following design school in Los Angeles, and early stints at Surf Fetish, Land’s End and Esprit- Jose joined the launch team for Old Navy, with the brand skyrocketing from a handful of stores to a national sensation built on fashion, great prices and a wink. Over the period of a decade, Jose went from being a member of the start-up design team to leading design and product development.

Collaborator David Ayala, is a third-generation Mexican-American born and raised in the motor city of Detroit alongside 75 cousins. While at design school in Los Angeles, David and Jose bonded over their shared love of Solid Gold, freestyle music, and Venice Beach- and have continued to inspire each other since. A former Boy Scout, David continues to earn merit badges for both style and savvy.