Willie Escobar Montanez, acknowledged leader in cultivating and developing business in the young men’s and contemporary markets. As an Entrepreneur and Creative Director securing licenses for brand development from Tupac Shakur to MGM film/movie licenses that have been instrumental in generating over 100 million in sales to date world-wide; consistently exceeding investors’ expectations. An accomplished spokesperson, presenter and mentor to individuals and groups at all organizational levels as well as strong ability to adapt to the ever-changing fashion environment while maintaining a focus on brand direction.

With well over 20 years, the majority as an executive, in the design & marketing field, my experience is unparalleled. After graduating from the prestigious, FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY in New York City, I have honed my expertise for several years on Seventh Avenue only to have all my hard work rewarded in 1996 with the opportunity to launch my namesake brand -Willie Esco in an emerging street-wear market.

Fusing talent with the resources of Samsung and Alliance Worldwide (Financial home of FUBU) Willie Esco quickly became a household name, with immediate acceptance in the marketplace. The brand experienced colossal success while giving the Latin youth in America inspiration by relating to a street-wear brand represented at the retail level.

In 2004, Gene Therapy Group Inc. was developed, A design & marketing firm with extensive experience specializing in creative brand direction, GTG, is becoming the marketing guru for all things Latin. Understanding Latin demographics are becoming pivotal in all aspects of the global marketplace, GTG has a pioneer at the helm that has been an advocate for the Latin market since 1996 with the success of Willie Esco.

One of the first brands GTG & Willie Esco was summonsed to re-launch and recover from bankruptcy was Coogi; the wildly successful Australian sweater company in the late 80’s that was acquired by Jimmy Jazz and Alliance Worldwide. Viewed as a luxury brand by urban youth, it quickly rose back to the top where it once reigned in the marketplace.
To date the brand has generated over 100 million is sales since the re-launch in 2005.

In the same year, GTG acquired the worldwide rights for Tupac Amaru Shakur. Understanding that the market was shifting and needed a brand that payed homage to the greatest hip-hop artist of the 20th century, GTG created and developed the launch of Makaveli Branded. It was a collection based on the life and times of Tupac Shakur, a controversial rapper in the eyes of mainstream America, but a hero to most of the youth that listened to hip-hop. Tupac’s influence on celebrity artist and their admiration for his work was exemplified in advertising campaigns that spotlighted such artist as Ludacris, Omar Epps, and Tupac Himself. Makaveli also experienced huge success generating over 65 million in sales to date and continues to be sold worldwide. In 2006, GTG brokered and secured licensing agreements in several categories for Makaveli Branded including footwear.

Having attained and experienced immediate success as a brand developer and consultant I have been focusing on the Latin market, launching my own two-tiered brand called Blanco Label / LCN (La Cosa Nuestra).

This trickle down approach gives the Latin consumer the best of both trendsetting style and price sensitivity. The creation of LCN gives more fashion forward trends to the contemporary street-wear Latin consumer, while the illusive Latin consumer who aspires to achieve the trendsetting styles of LCN, Blanco Label was developed to be price conscience.

I entered the fashion market as a street-wear designer and continue to diversify, consult and design for several brands including Level 7 a young men’s premium denim collection and other young men’s contemporary collections.

In 2011,the gn therapy project was created from love for the denim connoisseur, representing human kindness, compassion, affection and individual culture. With a desire to maintain creativity, the number one priority is to remodel the denim industry while preserving the gifts Mother Earth has bestowed upon us. Through Eco-Aging ™ we strive to make the developmental process of denim as “green” as possible.

In 2013 , The results of the
gn therapy project will be rolled out to retail with our best archived washes from each location replicated.

This creative process is what drives me to a better designer and
brand builder , A labor of love that keeps me grounded in the process of everyday life.