The Ecko Company began in 1993 as the brainchild of a 20-year-old entrepreneur named Marc Ecko, who launched his line with half a dozen T-shirts and a now-famous can of spray paint. Thanks to a number of insightful marketing decisions and a talent for fusing the worlds of hip-hop and urban youth stylings, Ecko was able to grow his fashion empire into a multi-million dollar global business, which regularly brings in $300 million plus per year today.

Like its predecessors, Polo and Lacoste, Ecko adopted an animal icon for brand recognition. The Ecko Rhino has become a true youth icon over the past decade. Today, customers can choose from a dozen lines of unique Ecko products, including eyewear, leather goods, accessories and handbags, children's clothing, and women's clothing.

Ecko has also engaged in strategic business partnerships with a myriad of superstar affiliations, such as the National Football League, the NCAA, Playboy, and others. Details magazine recently put Marc Ecko on its venerated list of the most powerful men under 38, and the Atari Corporation has designed a videogame based on the wild imagination of Marc Ecko.

The company also gives back to the community by supporting youth groups and donating to a number of causes. It has worked vigorously to protect endangered rhinoceroses, and it has helped to finance a Ukrainian orphanage since the beginning of the year 2000. No doubt Ecko will continue to astound fashion watchers by promoting maverick styles, cross-cultural designs, and a diverse array of products.