Itchingtoexpandherhorizonsbeyondtheaterdirectionandacting,GitaZeltzerbeganconceptualizingXCVIinthemid1990s.Shewasinfluencedbythemulti-layeredculturalelementofLosAngeles,California,andshesawthe“urbanchaos”asamuse.
Gitawasinspiredbythespiritofwhatothersconsidered“everyday.”IncreatingXCVI,shediscoveredthatcontemporaryfashionwasanewanddynamicspaceforherartisticexpression.
Itwasin1996(orXCVI,inromannumerals)thatGitaintroducedthefirstseasonofXCVIfromastorefrontonthefamedMelroseAvenue.Thesuccessofthelineanditsabilitytoresonatewithsomanytypesofpeopledemandedthattheteamhireanotherdesignertokeepupwithdemand.
Gita,togetherwithdesignerLiliaGorodnitski,manifestedasharedvision:todevelopwearable,moveable,breathableclothingforwomenwhobelieveinstyle,butalsobelieveincomfort.Today,XCVIisacut-to-orderoperation,andworkswithretailersallovertheworld.