Rescued From illness, 'Baywatch' babe gets into T-shirts: Melissa Biggs overcomes liver ailment to launch PGD Style.FORMER "Baywatch" actress Melissa Biggs recently destroyed and launched a women's basic line, PGD PGD Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis PGD Postgraduate Diploma PGD Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase PGD Policy for Global Development PGD PhpGmailDrive (file sharing utility) PGD Product Group (US Marine Corps) Style. Her first shipment, to boutiques such as Ma Jolie and Fred Segal Fred Segal is a Los Angeles, California based clothing boutique. There are two stores, one in Hollywood (on Melrose Avenue) and the other in Santa Monica. In 1976, the Hollywood location was purchased by Ron Herman. boutiques, sold 100,000 units. "I've always been obsessed ob·sess v. ob·sessed, ob·sess·ing, ob·sess·es v.tr. To preoccupy the mind of excessively. v.intr. with T-shirts." Biggs said. "I've been on the hunt for the perfect white T-shirt for the past 10 years. There's a lot out there, but nothing was ever perfect for me." On top of that, when she did find a shirt that seemed right, it would fall apart after one washing. So Biggs developed a supima cotton weave that stands up to the washing machine (storage) washing machine - An old-style 14-inch hard disk in a floor-standing cabinet. So called because of the size of the cabinet and the "top-loading" access to the media packs - and, of course, they were always set on "spin cycle". and doesn't pill. "These are perfect," she said. "They're sexy basics." Her line also includes some pants and dresses. The model and former "Baywatch" babe received a crash course in merchandising while working for a sportswear distributor she was modeling for. Soon she was sitting in on meetings with buyers from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and adding her two cents. It was not long after that when Biggs was dealt a serious blow. She was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency An inherited condition–frequency, ±1:10,000, characterized by low or absent production of alpha-1 antitrypsin, an enzyme which is critical to tissue remodeling Clinical The PiZZ phenotype is characterized by early-onset , a protein deficiency that causes respiratory complications such as emphysema emphysema (ĕmfĭsē`mə), pathological or physiological enlargement or overdistention of the air sacs of the lungs. A major cause of pulmonary insufficiency in chronic cigarette smokers, emphysema is a progressive disease that commonly at a young age and can result in liver disease Liver Disease Definition Liver disease is a general term for any damage that reduces the functioning of the liver. Description The liver is a large, solid organ located in the upper right-hand side of the abdomen. . She was told that treatment would cost $20,000 a month and that she wasn't sick enough for her insurance to pick tip the tab. "It was basically a death sentence." Biggs said. Biggs found pharmaceutical company CSL Behring, which makes one of only three drugs on the market designed to treat her condition She also connected with the Caring Voice Coalition, an organization that works with individuals afflicted af·flict tr.v. af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on. [Middle English afflighten, from afflight, with the same disease as Biggs to help them pay for the medical treatments insurance doesn't cover. She became the poster child for the cause, literally, and now sits on Caring Voice's board. She still found time to work on her next business, which would become PGD, and enlisted the help of Guess Inc. Chief Executive Paul Marciano, a close friend. "Melissa is a talented designer and friend," Marciano said. "I'm very happy to have been able to help her in getting well and to see her now trying to help others." Biggs now designs a private label for Guess. Biggs is donating a portion of her profits to Caring Voice. Although the line is already carried in 82 stores, the official launch is May 16, when she'll host a kickoff event at the Beverly Hills Tennis Club. PGD Style is a division of Biggs' Macy-Jane Enterprises. |
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