Trovata is a four-man fashion design collective based in Newport Beach, CA, and has risen from a dorm room design studio to high-fashion notoriety in a matter of four years. After literally cutting and sewing each sample by hand, they got their first big break with orders from Barney’s, Fred Segal, and American Rag in 2002 and they haven’t looked back since. With a laid-back mix of west-coast surfer and east-coast prepschool student, Trovata bases each of its collections on the lives and times of fictional characters—the Fall 2006 line employs a cool 1960’s Alpine Swiss Streusel theme and the Spring 2007 line is a quirky take on a 1974 Cuban Diving Adventure. During New York’s most recent fashion week, the Trovata four strayed away from a conventional runway show and instead opted to showcase their Spring 2007 men’s and women’s styles by throwing a party with a band, margaritas, and even a raffle drawing–unconventional? Maybe. But it was an ingenious way to brandish the whimsical features with which the Trovata label has become associated. Get Trovata clothing (from t-shirts to twill blazers) at your local boutique or online at Active Endeavors or Revolve Clothing.