Style Observations by Vicki Bernie, The Dayton Jewish Observer

Parents’ ‘impeccable taste’ an inspiration to Band of Outsiders founder

Designer Scott Sternberg

To Scott Sternberg, an aspiring writer heading out to Los Angeles in 1997, Band of Outsiders was simply a fine movie by director Jean-Luc Godard. Six years later, however, it took on a whole new meaning.

“I started the company in January 2004, just making shirts and ties for men,” the native Daytonian writes in an e-mail interview. “I stole the name from a brilliant French New Wave director.”

Band of Outsiders, the company which began on a shoe- string budget, has given Sternberg tremendous, well-deserved recognition as a fashion designer, including two Council of Fashion Designers of America awards: the Swarovski Award for the Best New Menswear Designer, and Menswear Designer of the Year.

Initially, Sternberg says his L.A.-based company was focused and the distribution relatively small. These humble beginnings, he says were important because he was able to learn and understand every facet of the business.

“I would go out there and help him,” says his mother, Maureen Sternberg, “doing everything from snipping loose threads, sewing on buttons and putting on price tags. He did everything by himself for a couple of years and I could tell by talking to him when he needed me… and it was a great excuse to go out there and be with him.”

Sternberg graduated from Hillel Academy in 1992 and from Washington University in St. Louis, summa cum laude, in 1997, the same year he moved to L.A.

He then had a series of jobs in marketing and media at two creative artists agencies, as a writer’s assistant to Ed Solomon, (who wrote Men in Black and Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure), and consulting with Emily Woods, the founder of J. Crew.

Working with Woods, he first realized that he could make a career out of designing clothes.

“I’ve always been interested in clothes and design objects in general — anything from a necktie to a dining table to a cool bath mat,” he explains. “For some reason, I had never considered it as a career, as I had always thought of myself as more of a business-minded guy, I guess.”

Citing past family experiences as part of his brainchild, Sternberg reflects: “My parents have impeccable taste and are rabid consumers, so we were always shopping and around clothing. Our house was full of inspiration — the furniture, the flatware — everything. My Mom in particular loves antiques and old things, and I learned to rummage and collect through her.”

Comedian Sarah Silverman models Scott Sternberg’s 2009 ‘prepster chic’ designs for Boy by Band of Outsiders at Canter’s Delicatessen in Los Angeles

“When I told people that Scott was leaving writing and going into this new career, there were many doubters,” Maureen says. “Even though fashion would be a tough business to break into, I never had any doubt that he could do what he said he was going to do. He was always very intuitive and just got it.”

Maureen extols her son’s past with memories of how he worked his way up in the B’nai Brith Youth Organization to the title of Grand Aleph Godol, international president of BBYO. He then deferred college for a year in 1992 to travel all over the world, counseling chapters in other countries. “It was very cool to have the Grand Aleph Godol come to your town!” she says. “His campaigns were always very creative and amazing. Speaking in front of so many people gave him a lot of confidence.”

His fondest memories of Dayton? The Polo Department at Elder-Beerman followed by lunch upstairs, bingo at Meadowbrook Country Club, and being a camper and then a counselor at DJCC camp. He comes home to visit his parents, Marueen and dentist Dr. Marc Sternberg, twice a year.

“When I come home, my Mom and I hit all of the thrift stores together. My Dad cleans my teeth and we go car shopping if his lease is up. Other than that, I prefer to stay home and just hang out with them and our dog, Boo Radley.”

Inspiration for Band of Outsiders can come from almost anywhere, Sternberg says. “I can just hop on a subway train and be inspired. The style of specific people on a train and the cacophony of personal style that exists in New York in general.”

Sternberg just started a new line of polo shirts called This is Not a Polo Shirt. “This type of project is a good example of how the brand will grow over time,” he explains.

After working alone for the first two years, Sternberg brought on an assistant right around the time he started Boy, the women’s collection in mid 2006. “Now we are still quite small, six full-time employees, but growing steadily.”

On a recent trip home for his parent’s 40th anniversary party, Maureen says her son spoke beautifully, crediting his parents for encouraging him to follow his dream.

“He has always been a terrific son and a wonderfully creative person. We continue to be proud and amazed by him and I mean that in every sense of the word.”