Alife Founder Takes Over as Artistic Director at Buscemi

Alife founder Tony Arcabascio took over as the artistic director of streetwear brand Buscemi.

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Complex Original

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Alife co-founder Tony Arcabascio has joined luxury footwear brand Buscemi as its artistic director. Arcabascio is best known for launching Alife along with Rob Cristofaro, Arnaud Delecolle, and Tammy Brainard. Streetwear was hardly the monstrous industry it is today when the company was first founded, but the four were able to turn Alife into one of the most important brands in streetwear history.

Arcabascio seems to be a perfect fit for a brand like Buscemi, which is best known for making limited-edition luxury sneakers. Alife started off by creating the same air of limited-edition, gotta-have-it exclusivity that Buscemi gives off. This feeling is evident in Alife's New York store, which operates like a speakeasy—you need to be in the know—and requires you to ring a doorbell before you're welcomed to the store. 

Arcabascio brings 25 years of experience in the streetwear industry to Buscemi as well as a legitimacy that cannot be bought or gained overnight. "Tony joining the team really rounds out the authenticity in our global marketing department and his artistic direction is something we have been looking for since the inception of the brand," says Creative Director Jon Buscemi. "Working with such a massive talent like Tony is a huge complement to our brand."

Prior to joining Buscemi, Arcabascio collaborated with brands like Adidas and Levi's. And even before actually working in the industry, Arcabascio built up his credibility as a grafitti artist and, in 2015, he told The Standard's blog that he still likes to deface a wall every now and then. "At 45 years old, I can still walk around the city sticking up stickers and taking the occasional tag," he said.

If Alife's exclusive Rivington Store is any proof, Arcabascio knows how to build a brand that leaves people always wanting more. Now he should be able to do the same thing for Buscemi.

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