Who started it? Founded in 1963 by Sante Mazzarolo in Asolo, Italy, Alpinestars has long been cladding the backs of motorcyclists. Now a leading manufacturer of professional racing apparel and accessories, it is headed by Mazzarolo's son, Gabriele. Three years ago, the brand looked to Gabriele's wife, Ecuadorian-born and Los Angeles-raised designer Denise Focil, to launch a womenswear line.
Alpinestars by Denise Focil is inspired by Focil's love for music and travels around the world blended with the tough identity of the original motorcycle label.
Why we love it: bringing the laid-back glamour of LA to the line, Focil finds the right balance between light, flowing satins and silks and hard-edged but beautifully tailored leathers and denim. The label has garnered an impressive list of Hollywood fans, including Jessica Alba and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Shirts and skirts tend to be loose fitting but retain a feminine aesthetic, which underscores the androgynous rock touches of the leather jackets. The brand's origins shine through in Focil's unusual take on leather work and use of high-quality Italian hides, such as a supple, soft lambskin. The practically invisible branding and her experimentation with sleeve length and colour choices make the line's leather jackets ultra chic.
What we'd pick: the Lisa leather jacket in bottle green (above; HK$4,650), which uses lightweight leather and invisible clasps and zippers for a subtle feminine look, and the Gia silk shirt (left; HK$1,070), whose unusual asymmetry and pocket detail add quirky details to a wardrobe staple.