The Designer: Back in the 1970's, a young man named Dick Hayne planted a seed in the maze of streets and trees that make up West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He opened a store and called it Free People. Free People nurtured the young people who lived there and shopped there, who looked for a little of their own freedom in the clothes they wore. Free People shed its junior image and evolved into a more mature, contemporary brand. This allowed women to appreciate the line of clothing that catered to their intelligence, creativity and individuality, while keeping with its great quality and affordability. And that's just who we wanted to reach: A girl who likes to keep busy and push life to its limits, with traveling and hanging out and everything in between. She's smart, creative, confident and comfortable in all aspects of her being, free and adventurous, sweet to tough to tomboy to romantic.