WHAT STARTED WITH REWORKING DENIM SCRAPS IN HER SAN FRANCISCO APARTMENT IN 2020 HAS SINCE EVOLVED INTO “BLOC 4 4” — A CLOTHING BRAND DEDICATED TO UPCYCLING, PERSONAL EXPRESSION, AND REBELLING AGAINST FAST FASHION THROUGH PURPOSEFUL DESIGN. FOUNDED BY ROMANIAN-BORN CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND STYLIST, ANDRA GHEORGHIU, BLOC 4 4 IS A FEMALE OWNED BRAND AND OPERATES OUT OF SAN FRANCISCO, MERGING STYLE, SUSTAINABILITY, AND STORYTELLING.

RAISED AROUND THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IN ROMANIA, STYLE AND PERFORMANCE WERE CONSTANT FORCES IN ANDRA’S LIFE. HER EARLIEST INSPIRATIONS CAME FROM HOME — ONE GRANDMOTHER WAS REGARDED AS THE BEST DRESSED WOMAN IN HER CITY, WHILE THE OTHER KNITTED BEAUTIFUL PIECES FROM HER FARMHOUSE IN A SMALL VILLAGE. THEIR LOVE FOR CRAFT, DETAIL, AND SELF-EXPRESSION LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION AND SHAPED HER DESIGN PERSPECTIVE EARLY ON.

WITH A BACKGROUND IN TECH STARTUPS AND A CAREER IN BIOPHARMA, ANDRA SPENT YEARS BUILDING OTHER PEOPLE’S VISIONS WHILE QUIETLY NURTURING HER OWN CREATIVE PRACTICE. WHEN THE WORLD PAUSED IN 2020, SHE TURNED TO HER ROOTS — AND HER HANDS — TO BEGIN CREATING. WHAT STARTED AS A CREATIVE OUTLET DURING A DIFFICULT TIME QUICKLY TRANSFORMED INTO A DEEPLY PERSONAL BRAND AND DESIGN PHILOSOPHY.

THUS, BLOC 44 WAS BORN — NAMED FOR THE MANTRA 4 YOU, 4 EVER. THE BRAND FOCUSES ON REPURPOSING VINTAGE MATERIALS AND SOURCING HIGH-QUALITY LEISUREWEAR TO CREATE ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECES MEANT TO BE BORROWED FOREVER — PURCHASED WITH INTENTION, WORN WITH MEANING, AND KEPT FOR A LIFETIME. MANY GARMENTS ARE HAND-SEWN, EMBROIDERED, AND FINISHED IN-HOUSE, GIVING EACH PIECE A SENSE OF CHARACTER, CARE, AND CRAFT.

EVERY PIECE TELLS A STORY — HANDMADE, REIMAGINED, AND BUILT TO OUTLIVE TRENDS.

“ LOVE YOU 4 EVER”