Adrian Alicea - Warriors By Adrian Alicea

Adrian Alicea

Adrian Alicea Biography Adrian Alicea knows it takes more than just good looks to stand out in a crowd. It takes determination. It takes drive. It takes desire. Sometimes, it even takes talent. Adrian, either by good fortune or through the grace of God, is blessed with all of these. Adrian Alicea Haute Couture is the culmination of forty years of experience of a life both rich in its vastness of exploits and travels as well as the simplicity of a Latino child’s humble beginnings. It is this celebration of life--the foibles, the triumphs, the pain, the successes, the beauty, the heritage, the struggles--that make Adrian’s creations so unique. As a hands-on designer, Adrian sews homage and tribute and honor and joie-de-vivre in every stitch. Adrian’s story begins humbly and simply. Born the eleventh of twelve children in a small wooden shack in the mountains of Puerto Rico’s famed “El Yunque” rainforest region, Adrian moved to the gritty streets of the Bronx at age three. It was on those streets that he first learned how to express himself creatively by becoming a rising break-dancing talent. For many kids in the Bronx at that time, being recognized as a dancer would be enough fame. For Adrian, it was only the beginning. His dancing talent got him into many nightclubs as a featured performer and it was at the age of 20 that Adrian was approached by Rae Dawn Chong at the famed NY nightclub, The Tunnel, about being a model for Thierry Mugler. Although his 6 ft. 3 in frame made him quite an imposing figure on the dance floor, Adrian never dreamed his looks and his height could translate into a modeling career. Never one to shy away from opportunity, Adrian modeled for Thierry Mugler for three years. He continued to dance every opportunity he could and from Mugler he transitioned on to touring as a featured dancer with Malcom McClaren, Willie Ninja and Grace Jones. As a model, he did campaigns and runways for Armani, Gautier, Gianfranco Ferre and Patricia Fields. In the late 90s, he met Nico Urquiza and the famed house of Nico & Adrian NY was born. For ten years, Adrian worked with Nico to create a couture collection that featured unique and outrageous designs and runway shows that were so scandalous in their sexiness that many of the world’s top models and fashion photographers came calling for collaborations. The designs of Nico & Adrian NY went on to be featured in many magazines covers and pages including Vogue. Their fashions would be photographed by Steven Meisel and David LaChappelle. Their wares would be worn by the likes of Linda Evangelista, Omahyra, Daddy Yankee, Nick Cannon and Zoe Saldana. The last act of Nico & Adrian NY as a team is their underwear line which is currently available in stores and online today. For the past two years, Adrian has been focusing on establishing his own aptly-named line, Adrian Alicea Haute Couture. Paying homage to his Latino and Taino Indian roots, celebrating his growth as an artist from dancer to model to stylist to designer to photographer, the Adrian Alicea Haute Couture collection is, as Adrian shyly explains, “…my heart. I make everything by hand. I love color. I love music. I love dance. I want my designs to make people happy, so each piece is unique. I put everything into my work--my heart, my soul, my love. I want everyone who wears my designs to feel special, to feel proud…to know they are different and that they have a right to be.”