Spotlights by Melissa Westphal 6/23
Interview with Chris Molnar
Founder of Cacio Pepe
What inspired the name Cacio Pepe, and how does the simplicity of the classic Italian pasta reflect your vision for the brand?
The brand is literally inspired by the simplicity of the pasta dish and how something so simple can be so perfect - specifically when you are using superior ingredients. But deeper than that, it's about the simple pleasures and simple things in our lives that really give us meaning.
Why did you choose Los Angeles for apparel and Veneto, Italy for footwear production? What does that bring to the products?
My family has roots in LA and it's also where we made Goodlife so I have strong relationships and experience with producing there. I believe in local / domestic manufacturing when possible. As for Italy, our footwear partner in Milan works with an artisanal, hand made factory. The idea with both USA and Italy is we want the brand to have an authentic and transparent supply chain.
The launch includes events like pop-ups in Portofino, vintage capsules in the Hamptons, pasta dinners and a 5K run—what’s your vision behind combining lifestyle and experiential moments with product drops?
I strongly believe that a brand today needs to be able to create community which is where the pasta runs come in. In addition, pop-ups, brand partnerships and collaborations are a brand awareness tool firstly but then it's also a way to introduce new products on a consistent basis and keep the brand fresh.
