The G+G Team and Company Culture

Employees include a diverse range of business professionals, entrepreneurs, artisans and craftspeople. All projects are approached in a collaborative and disciplined manner utilizing the full resources, talent, and insight within the organization. Internal skill sets at Graj+Gustavsen integrate business and creative disciplines and include: market strategists and brand managers, licensing representatives and retail liaisons, environment and space designers, designers and artists, product developers and technicians, and other supporting disciplines.

Located in New York City, G+G has developed a network of talented independent industry specialists that work alongside G+G's core team as projects require. G+G is also active with local and national universities, cultivating ongoing internships with students from a broad range of institutions.

The Partners

Simon Graj, Founding Partner

Simon Graj founded Graj + Gustavsen in 1989, along with Eric Gustavsen, after years in the wholesale and retail industry, and later as design director at Hemisphere, a division of the Gap. As the charismatic, philosophical thinker of the firm, Simon founded G+G with three principles: Build a resource that creates and delivers brands to the marketplace, develop a superior working process based on an open environment and a disciplined, processive approach to creative development, and manage the Company's work process so the partners can take a hands-on approach at key points along the development process of each project.

Simon has fostered the development of a unique work environment that has become known as "the CEO's playground." G+G's studio is now the place where clients come to be creative and strategic while positioning their companies for success.

Raymond Graj, Founding Partner

Raymond Graj is the operational strategist of G+G. Ray joined his brother Simon and Eric Gustavsen when the two were developing Terrasystems, an international outdoor brand, which became the inaugural project that launched G+G. With a sales and merchandising background at major apparel corporations such as Polo, Ray offers an entrepreneurial perspective and hands-on operational experience to the companies that work with G+G.

Eric Gustavsen, Founding Partner

Eric Gustavsen crafted his creative skills as a former art director for the Hemisphere division of the Gap, and prior to that on a variety of brand and business Start-Ups. Recognized by DNR, the leading publication for men's fashion, as "Fantastic Before Forty," Eric guides the core creative and strategic direction on all projects and all client presentations. Eric oversees translating high-concept ideas into bankable brand solutions.

Steven Sicular, Managing Partner - Creative

Steven Sicular began his career over twenty years ago working together with Simon and Eric and has spent half his career as part of the G+G team. When not working at G+G, Steven has held senior design, merchandising, and management roles at Barney's New York, Champion Athletics, Abercrombie and Fitch, the Gap, and Polo. Steven has served in many roles at G+G over the years leading up to his current position as Managing Partner - Creative. Steven guides the design and development of all projects in collaboration with Simon and Eric.

Alan Zaitz, Business Development

Alan brings over forty years of lifestyle brand experience to the role of business development at G+G. Having honed his talents in the world of design, strategy and sales, Alan now helps to introduce clients and partners to G+G. Alan began his career in a hands on way, creating and launching brands into the market. His seasoned "merchants approach" to evaluating needs and identifying market opportunities has led to successful engagements with global companies and entrepreneurs alike.