Leah McSweeney (born in 1982 in New York City) is founder and CEO of the successful female Married to the MOB clothing line [1]. Her early years were spent in New York City until she was thrown out in eighth grade from an all girls catholic school [2], Convent of the Sacred Heart, whose alumni include Lady Gaga and the Hilton Sisters. Afterwards, Leah’s family moved to Newtown, Connecticut where she ran away every weekend to get back to her NYC roots. Once Leah finished high school, she moved back to the Big Apple and went to the Fashion Institute of Technology for a short time before calling it quits [3].
Tired of seeing guys having the coolest gear and brands, Leah had the brilliant idea of creating her own female clothing line , Married to the MOB, in 2004 [4]. Leah used her settlement of $75,000 (from a law suit stemming from a police officer attack)[5] to jumpstart her idea and bought an Apple computer and painted her Spring Street apartment walls pink.
Leah’s apartment became the Married to the MOB headquarters; everyone from Leah's model sister and MOB poster girl Sarah McSweeney to her teenage friend Tabatha McGurr, daughter of well-known graffiti artist Futura 2000, became part of the crew[6]. The clothing line grew from there, and Leah switched her headquarters to the Empire State Building.
McSweeney has been included in a multitude of publications, such as Elle Girl, Inked (magazine), Complex (magazine), Elle (magazine), Vogue (magazine), Hypebeast, Essence (magazine), Paper (magazine), URB (magazine), Teen Vogue, and Nylon (magazine).
MTTM Collaborations and Beyond
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The bold statements on its graphic tees such as "Supreme Bitch" [7] or "New York needs Peter Gatien”[8] have become the brand's trademark. Even the tagline “Men are the new women” from a MOB campaign was even used in conjunction with the tv show Big Shots (TV series). Supreme store owner James Jebbia also worked with MOB and carried the brand’s tees in his stores [9] James Jebbia].
MOB's hands bikini with graffiti artist Kaws was a stepping-stone for Leah's company. With the suit's handprints boldly placed on every guy’s favorite spots on a girl’s body, this product is one of the more renowned MOB collabs [10]. Various collabs followed in 2007, notably with the German accessory house MCM and a MOB x Kangol cashmere beanie [11].
Leah's love for France got her to meet graffiti artist Fafi, who helped design and model for the 07 Spring/Summer campaign [12]. French avant-garde boutique Colette (boutique) collaborated successfully with MOB on Reebok lip print sneakers that sold out online in 23 minutes [13]. MOB teamed up with Nike in November 08 on a white tweed and black patent dunk [14]. The MOB girls dropped a denim line as well as cut and sew for Winter 08 [15]. February 09 brought KRINK inks and MOB together, and they co-branded a Valentine's Day pack [16].
In Spring 09, the first wave of the collection was a collaboration with Chicago rapper, Kid Sister [17]. MOB's second wave of Spring 09 had the brand working with artist Jessy Kennedy, aka The Nite Rider, who added her naughty illustrations to a classically controversial MOB shirt [18]. With the 50th Anniversary of Barbie in March 09, Colette (boutique) continued its relationship with MOB with a commemorative tee [19].
Seen and Heard
editMarried to the MOB (clothing) has been seen on many musicians and celebrities alike. The line has been worn by rapper Uffie [20], multi-talented artist Fergie (singer), singer Lady Gaga, model Doutzen Kroes, musician Kid Sister, and rapper Lady Sovereign.
References
edit- ^ URB Magazine interview
- ^ Papermag interview of Leah
- ^ Papermag interview of Leah
- ^ Papermag interview of Leah
- ^ Sadie magazine Leah interview
- ^ Sadie magazine Leah interview
- ^ Papermag interview of Leah
- ^ Holiday 07 campaign
- ^ [http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Complex-Men/Captains-of-Cool/James-Jebbia
- ^ URB Magazine interview
- ^ Kangol and MOB beenie
- ^ URB Magazine interview
- ^ Sneaker Freaker interview
- ^ Sadie magazine Leah interview
- ^ Sneaker Freaker interview
- ^ KRINK & MOB
- ^ MOB & Kid Sister collab
- ^ MOB & Jessy Kennedy collab
- ^ MOB & Colette for Barbie’s 50th Anniversary
- ^ Uffie for MOB