The ALIFENYC artistic experiment began in 1999, when fashion designer Arnaud Delecolle partnered with artists and gallery minded individuals Tammy Brainard, Rob Cristofaro, and Tony Arcabascio.  Together, these four individuals crafted a stylish, possibly retro boutique at 178 Orchard Street in New York City.  After some success, they were able to open up a Los Angeles boutique at Sportie.

The RTF footwear line is an extremely limited edition.  RTF collaborators often work with shoe companies to emblemize and stylize particular lines.  ALIFE keeps all of the creative development process in-house and draws upon various influences (such as plaid canvas) to market and perfect the brand's footwear.  Moreover, prices are generally considered reasonable--even for new sneaks.  These aren't "shoes from the future" or super stylized accessories--they are relatively understated loafers, sneakers, and boat shoes designed for everyday living and activities.

Some design inspirations were created by Rob Cristofaro, who has been a driving force behind the ALIFE brand.  He developed the ALIFE logo as well as several action figures for Jakuan and Kaws.  Cristofaro's graffiti background is in a way an aesthetic derivative of New York hip-hop culture, but the ALIFENYC line up boasts a new unique style.  Barney's New York signed on to host the 2004 RTF collection.

Given the anti-gimmick nature of ALIFE shoes, many industry prospectors expect that the brand will stick around for many years.  Already, "vintage" ALIFENYC shoes are selling to collectors.