Marc Jacobs
(1963-)
Marc Jacobs was born in April 9, 1963 in New York City. He studied at Art and Design High School from which he graduated in 1981. He then attended Parson’s School of Design where he graduated in 1984
with the best grades and three great awards. Jacobs created a collection of hand-knit sweaters which were produced by Charivari, the New York clothing store where he worked as a stock boy. These sweaters earned him the Perry Ellis Golden Thimble award. His other two awards were the Chester Weinberg Gold Thimble Award and the Design Student of the Year Award.
In 1984, Jacobs established a company with Robert Duffy, the “Jacobs Duffy Design,” which continues to this day. Jacobs designed his first collection for Ruben Thomas through the fall of 1985 and created a collection based on the film Amadeus, under the “Sketchbook” label.
Two years later in 1986, Jacobs began designing under his own label. He was first backed by Jack Atkins and later by Onward Kashiyama for whom he designed the first ready-to-wear Collection Kashiyama USA, Inc., with his Marc Jacobs label. In 1987, Jacobs was awarded The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent, becoming the youngest designer recognized in the fashion industry with this high tribute.
In 1989, Jacobs and his business partner Robert Duffy were hired by Perry Ellis. Duffy was appointed president and Jacobs was appointed vice-president of womenswear design, succeeding Patricia Pastor. Jacobs accomplished great success at Perry Ellis, injecting new energy and excitement to the firm. In 1992, Jacobs was honored by the Council of Fashion Designers of America with The Women's Designer of the Year Award. That same year, Jacobs and Duffy were fired from Perry Ellis after producing a highly “grunge” collection.
In 1993, Jacobs Duffy Designs Inc. launched its own licensing and design company; the Marc Jacobs International Company, L.P. In 1994 Jacobs produced his first full collection of menswear. Jacobs and Duffy joined Louis Vuitton in 1997; Duffy as Studio Director and Jacobs as Artistic Director where he developed the company's first ready-to-wear line while expanding his own label. His three Marc Jacobs collections—two for adults and one for children—are sold at dozens of Marc Jacobs boutiques worldwide. He has also licensed his name to perfumes and accessories. Jacobs also collaborated on the popular Louis Vuitton graffiti bags.
Currently, Marc Jacobs is serving as Artistic Director of the Louis Vuitton fashion house, where he has been since 1998. He also designs his own clothing lines, the upscale Marc Jacobs and the lower priced Marc by Marc Jacobs collection. Jacobs’ signature looks include bright colors, layered looks, empire lines, rugby stripes, and oversize prints, bows and buttons.
In 2001, Marc Jacobs launched a secondary line; Marc by Marc Jacobs, with a spring 2001 runway show. Jacobs has since then been awarded seven CFDA awards including Womenswear Designer of the Year, Accessories Designer of the Year and Menswear Designer of the Year.
The first Marc Jacobs multi-brand store in the U.S. opened in August 2004 in Newbury Street in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2005, Jacobs opened three new stores in Los Angeles. In January 2006, Jacobs opened his first free-standing European store in Paris at The Palais Royale which was followed with a London location in February, 2007. In the Spring of 2007 a full line of children’s wear, “Little Marc Jacobs” was launched.
The company currently produces six fragrances, 2 eyewear collections, a line of watches, and a table top collection with partner Waterford Wedgewood which was introduced since December, 2006.Today, Marc Jacobs Collection and Marc by Marc Jacobs stores can be found in four locations in Hong Kong, four locations in Taiwan, twenty-five locations in Japan (including flagships in Osaka and Aoyama) and five locations in Korea.
In May 2009, Jacobs hosted the “Model and Muse” themed Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala in New York with Kate Moss.
In April 2010, Marc Jacobs was chosen to be among Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.
Jacobs currently divides his time between Paris, France and New York City. In January 2010, Jacobs married boyfriend Lorenzo Martone, a Brazilian PR executive, at a friend's home in St. Barts in the French West Indies.
