Teddy Santis

Teddy Santis is the founder and creative director of the New York-based menswear line Aimé Leon Dore (ALD) and the Creative “Made in USA.” Since its inception in 2014, the label has formalised a “New Prep” aesthetic that blends 1990s New York streetwear with classic Americana, making its Nolita flagship a central hub for global fashion devotees.

Santis grew up in Queens and founded Aimé Leon Dore with a focus on nostalgic storytelling and hospitality-driven retail. After a period of steady growth, the brand reached a turning point in 2017 when Santis began a long-term partnership with New Balance. Their first collaborative release in 2019 served as a critical inflection point, revitalising heritage silhouettes and propelling ALD into the global spotlight. In April 2021, New Balance appointed Santis as the first-ever Creative Director for its premium “Made in USA” line, a role he officially assumed in February 2022. As of 2026, he continues to steer the division, recently previewing a Spring/Summer 2026 collection that balances seasonal palettes with the brand’s core commitment to domestic manufacturing.

In January 2022, the brand’s commercial trajectory was accelerated when LVMH Luxury Ventures acquired a minority stake in the company. This investment fuelled a rapid physical expansion, beginning with the opening of a London flagship in Soho in June 2022. This was followed by the 2024 launch of a significant outpost on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, which successfully exported the brand's unique blend of curated apparel and café culture to the West Coast.

Beyond apparel, Santis has expanded ALD’s reach through multi-disciplinary collaborations with Porsche, Technics and Woolrich, further cementing his role as a curator of a holistic lifestyle brand.