Friends in Fashion

Paul Revere Students Lalia Susini and Cate Friedberg Launch Clothing Line

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Friendship only goes so far, but 12-year-olds Lalia Susini and Cate Friedberg are taking theirs a long, long way—and there is no telling how many doors it will open.

Founders of LATE Clothing LA, the two Paul Revere Charter Middle School sixth-graders and aspiring fashion designers put their instincts and imaginations to the test during the coronavirus pandemic to create a brand of clothing for “tween” and teen girls and, fittingly, it debuted on Mother’s Day.

Designed with a one-size mindset, each piece is reworked with its own unique, confident flair. LATE’s spring collection, called “Responders,” blends comfort with casual luxury. The pieces can go from the beach and dance studios to BMX tracks and studio lots.

“We came up with the idea last summer during quarantine,” Susini said. “We were super excited.”

The girls met in their pre-kindergarten class at West Hollywood Elementary when they were 4 years old and have been friends ever since. They live 20 minutes from each other, and both have had exposure to the fashion and entertainment industry for as long as they can remember.

Susini plays Young Andy on ABC’s TV drama “Station 19,” while Friedberg’s dad, Nick, owns an LA-based women’s clothing company called NSF. The pair had access to quality materials, and found joy in repurposing sample pieces and left-over inventory.

The girls cut, painted and added their own touches to each of their pieces. They began making clothes for friends, and the name of their line cleverly combines their names: “LA” for the first two letters of Lalia’s name and “TE” for the last two of Cate’s.

“When they were little they used to play around in the clothes at the NSF warehouse, even though all of the items were too big for them at the time,” Kimberly Friedberg, Cate’s mom, recalled. “They pick up old sample sizes already made, put this on it or this on it, and they decide how they want to wear it.”

Lalia’s mom, Stacey, elaborated: “They do their own stenciling and add age-appropriate things here and there. Cate’s dad was extremely helpful in getting them going. They’d take all the pieces and cut them, and do all that.”

The two girls have been on the “fast track” to success from an early age and were immersed in a rapid-paced environment until the day a national stay at home order was issued. With the whole world on lockdown, suddenly virtualization, creativity and do-it-yourself projects became a new way of life …  and concepts for LATE began to flow.

Everything came to a halt on October 22, 2020. That date remains ingrained in their minds and hearts.

Susini was in an accident at home, resulting in left-side paralysis and brain damage. She remained in critical condition for five days.

“It was devastating,” Kimberly remembered. “They were going to hang out that day, and when we found out, we were in utter shock. That whole night we were glued to the phone. It’s a miracle.”

On day seven, Friedberg and Susini spoke. Although the conversation was brief, they mostly talked about their brand, both more determined than ever to pursue their passion.

“I remember being nervous because I didn’t how she’d talk and act,” Friedberg shared.

Doctors predicted Susini would be in the hospital for at least one full year, but she was released after only 61 days. LATE gave her a reason to fight for recovery, giving a new meaning to their clothing line.

The LATE motto and logo is “Second Chances,” reflecting the rebirth of their life, friendship and love. They are also working on a summer clothing line (the name has yet to be chosen).

“What happened made me stronger,” Susini said. “I learned not to care what others think about you.”

Lalia spent 44 days at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and continues her outpatient therapy (one hour each of physical therapy and occupational therapy four days per week). For every item sold through LATE, part of the proceeds will go to The Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation Rehabilitation Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Prices range from $30 to $100, with T-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts and sweatpants, jackets, hoodies, and dresses available.

LATE’s first collection is called “Responders” because the items are named after doctors, paramedics, nurses and hospital friends—each with its own moving story behind it. Here are a few examples:

PEREZ: The Los Angeles Fire Department Station 97 paramedic who was first on scene for Susini on October 22. Stacey shared his quick assessment and care saved her life, and the two are still very close.

DANIELPOUR: The brain surgeon who also saved Susini’s life. She and her family have talked with nurses and paramedics who still admit they don’t know how he did it.

PARIKH: A CHLA resident doctor whose determination to make his patient better inspired Susini to walk again. He skipped lunch and ate with her every day. After his shift, he would return and play Monopoly Deal with her—but only if she would stand up.

POPPY: Susini’s neighbor in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for Brain Trauma at Cedars Sinai. They both did a medical transfer to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on the same day. Poppy’s parents were always in the hallways and helped make both places feel comforting.

Susini has appeared in five episodes of “Station 19,” and she watched one of the shows she taped from season four from her hospital bed. She got into BMX bike racing (she has ridden at numerous tracks in Southern California since July). She also plays club soccer, and hopes to participate in soccer and track at school, following in the footsteps of her brother Maxou, now in eighth grade at Revere. She also has a 10-year-old sister, Sasha.

Friedberg has a passion for dance and has been taking classes at Fancy Feet since last summer. Her older cousin, Sophie, lives in the Palisades (she was captain of the dance team at Palisades Charter High School last year and is a now freshman at the University of Wisconsin). Friedberg is planning to attend Pali High also.

Not only are Susini and Friedberg best friends, but so too are their 8-year-old brothers, Misha and Vince.

“I spend three or four hours on weekends with LATE,” said Friedberg, whose favorite dance styles are hip hop and sassy jazz. “Lalia is loyal, funny and nice … everything you could ask for in a best friend.”

Indeed, it seems the sky is the limit for these young entrepreneurs.

To learn more about LATE Clothing LA or to place an order online, email info@LATEclothingLA.com or press@LATEclothingLA.com, or visit the website at lateclothingla.com.