NEW YORK, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ — Marc Ecko, founder of the world-famous rhino-branded apparel line, *ecko unltd., recently came to the rescue of two Southern white rhinos, featured as part of an auction of animals held at Catskill Game Farm in Catskill, NY.
Mr. Ecko, a staunch supporter of rhino relief who also has a rhino named in his honor at the San Diego Zoo, successfully won Jack at the auction for $8,500. Boom Boom, however, was won by a purported game hunter from Texas, where canned hunts are legal. Teamed with a coalition of locals and animal activists, Mr. Ecko’s team managed to negotiate the purchase and rescue of Boom Boom, offering the hunter double his winning bid of $5,500.
While a search is conducted for a permanent safe haven for Jack and Boom Boom, Mr. Ecko will provide the resources necessary to ensure their continued stay at the Catskill Game Farm facility. Once relocated, Mr. Ecko will provide webcams through which the rhinos can be viewed online by the thousands of children and adults who had visited the Catskill Game Farm over the years and have come to love Jack and Boom Boom.
Commenting on the two additions to his family, Marc Ecko stated, "While the rhino has been an integral part of *ecko unltd.’s heritage since its beginning in 1993, it wasn’t until we really studied this majestic animal and its daily struggles that a true affinity was born. More than just a logo, the rhino took on a whole new meaning as we began to coexist with it. We always said that the rhino is a survivor, so when we overcame our early financial struggles it was only natural that we dedicate ourselves to giving back to the animal that provided the inspiration."
About Marc Ecko
The youngest member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s board of directors, Marc Ecko’s artistic journey began in the mid-80s in a makeshift design studio and showroom located in the garage of his parent’s New Jersey home. A full-fledged member of the then emerging hip-hop scene, Marc engendered interest with the generation’s new cultural icons including Spike Lee and Chuck D, who wore his t-shirts with pride. These events precipitated his founding of *ecko unltd. in 1993, at the age of 20. His unique talents, coupled with an innate marketing acumen, would quickly guarantee success.
In the short period that has passed, Marc Ecko Enterprises (www.marceckoenterprises.com) has grown to include 12 separate *ecko unltd. apparel and accessories lines, the contemporary Marc Ecko "Cut & Sew" collection, G-Unit Clothing Company, Zoo York, Avirex Sportswear, Complex magazine (circulation 330,000), and a recently launched video game and multi- media entertainment division. Over the years, he has also dedicated himself to a number of socially conscious initiatives, including significant work with underprivileged youth domestically and internationally, and a dedicated role in reversing the plight of the world’s rhino population.
Source: Marc Ecko Enterprises
CONTACT: Clint Cantwell of *ecko unltd., +1-917-262-1110,
clintc@ecko.com
Web site: http://www.marceckoenterprises.com/
