Jonas Bevacqua was a college dropout and a DJ who had moved back into his parents' home when he met up with Robert Wright and created a street clothing company that resonated in Southern California and the nation. According to the Associated Press, Bevacqua and Wright "sketched out some of their earliest fashion ideas in his bedroom." The two went on to found Lifted Resesarch Group (LRG), a popular street clothing brand, in 1999, and the line enjoyed a rapid rise "as a major fashion force."
[Updated, 6:18 p.m.: A previous version of this post incorrectly identified Wright as a DJ instead of Bevacqua.]
On Tuesday, Bevacqua, 34, was found dead in his Laguna Beach home, according to authories in Orange County.
According to the AP: "Deeply influenced by Southern California's skateboard, surfing and hip hop culture, [Bevacqua] said he and Wright began making clothes that reflected their interests but that no one else seemed to be providing."
By 2006, LRG had annual sales of $150 million.
The Twittersphere was buzzing about Bevacqua on Tuesday:
"I just learned about the passing of a revolutionary mind," one fan tweeted. "RIP to Jonas Bevacqua the Co-Founder of LRG, You brought much swag to this world, rest in peace," said another.