When Tracy Lutz and Regina Mandell decided to launch their clothing line, NIKO, they quit their jobs on a Wednesday, took a break on Thursday, and started designing of Friday. “We were ready to put our ideas out there,” Lutz says now of the year-old line. Those early ideas resulted in their spring 2002 collection, which ranges from casual to sophisticated and includes a fitted stretch-denim micromini. “With companies like Urban Outfitters and H&M copying every trend, we wanted to offer something unique,” says Mandell. The self-taught designers, who met while working at retro T-Shirt company RetroActive (where they learned all aspects of fashion production), now have plenty of opportunities to develop future lines – they live and work together in Northern Liberties, Philly’s new hipster district. As for their logo, it’s a picture of Lutz from her modeling days enhanced by a graphic designer. And the name? “I always thought if I had a baby, I’d name it Niko,” says Lutz, “I guess this is my baby.”