Nanni Strada started her career as a fashion designer during the 1960`s, after collaborating on the knitwear collections produced for Dior and Saint-Laurent by Avon Celli. Some of her first projects are a jewelry line and transparent fluorescent perspex footwear, published in the Vogue Italia feature "What they invent-who they are" in 1967. Between 1969 and 1972 Nanni Strada contributes to the "Sportmax" line by Max Mara, 1972 for the first time under the label "Nanni Strada". In 1973 she participates at the Milan Triennal curated by Ettore Sottsass with the film "The cloak and the skin". In 1974 she enters a project for the competition for Arabic Islamic Garment, promoted by the Libyan government, a competition in which Archizoom members equally participate. Furthermore she works on research and design of advanced synthetic garments for labels such as Ermenegildo Zegna, Dolomite, Yamaha Japan, Fiat Group, Abarth Collection and her own collection. Nanni Strada will be teaching in Milano.
MADE IN ITALY
Nanni Strada
Via Goito 7, 20121 Milan
Tel: +39-02-6575385
Fax:+39-02-6597035
http://www.nannistrada.com
Egon Von Furstenberg was born in Lausanne, the son of a German family of antique and noble origins. As a young man he lived travelling between Italy, Austria and the United States, which he considers his second home. He went to school and university in Switzerland where he obtained a degree in Economics. Destined to a brilliant career at New York's Chase Manhattan Bank, Egon decided instead to dedicate himself to his great passion for fashion and design.
So he applied and became a student of the Parson's School of Design and at the same workeds at the Macy's department store. In 1975 on showed his first line of pullovers and men's shirts. Thus the Egon von Furstenberg label was born. The company Egon von Furstenberg s.r.l. began its business in 1977 in the United States and in 1983 in Italy. The designer's creative consultancy focused at a variety of trading licences dealing in the production and distribution of products for different target and market segments. The Egon von Fustenberg label, thanks to the designer's rich creativity, is today present the world over.
MADE IN ITALY
Egon Von Furstenberg S.r.l.
Via Spartaco 8, 20135 Milano
Tel:+39-02-55181200
+39-02-55188166
+39-02-55181384
Fax:+39-02-55181549.
Press Office: Carla Mocenigo
www.egonvonfurstenberg.com
Blumarine was established by Anna Molinari and Gianpaolo Tarabini in 1977, in the town of Carpi in the province of Modena. The name was inspired by the couple's favourite colour and their love of the sea.In 1980 they made their first appearance at Modit in Milan,where Blumarine was named Designer of the Year, which led to their first show at Milan Fashion Week the following year.The 1986 Milan Fashion Week saw the first collection wholly designed by Anna Molinari.
As the brand took off and they started to license it to other companies, Blufin was set up in 1988 to act as a holding company.By 2006 royalties accounted for €5.5m of their income.The first Blumarine boutique was opened in the Via della Spiga, Milan in 1990;the company now sells into more than 1000 retail outlets, of which 55 are own-brand boutiques.
MADE IN ITALY
Anna Molinari - Blumarine
Via G. Ferraris 13/15/15a,
411012 Carpi (Modena)
Tel: +39-059-637511
Fax: +39-059-688672
Press Office:
Paola Ruffo, Tel: +39-02-784694
www.blufin.it
The Trussardi story began in 1910 when Dante Trussardi, master glove-maker, set up his company in Bergamo, creating finely made gloves which were soon successfully all over the world.
Nicola Trussardi, Dante's nephew, after graduating with a degree in economics, took over the company from his father and uncle in 1970.
By 1973 Trussardi was ready to launch a series of products with his name and to add a trademark to his name. Looking for something original which conveys an idea of his product he chose the greyhound: a purebred dog which has always been tied to the history of painting, fast and delicate at the same time, refined, with an elegant carriage - a symbol of dynamism.
MADE IN ITALY
Trussardi, S.p.A.
Piazza Duse 4, 20122 Milan
Tel: +39-2-760641
Fax: +39-2-7601-4249
Press Office: Rosi delle Piane
The name "Etro" has now become synonymous with style. A lifestle, above all aimed at quality and esthetic refinement. A total look, a universe of elegance originating in Gimmo Etro's innate passion for travels andhistory, which have now become the leitmotive of all the lines. This love for exoticism and for culture has always motivated his research, ever since he began his entrepreneurial adventure as a converter of textiles for the clothing industry founded as Etro S.p.A. in 1968.
The motif characterizing the first collection was Paisley, which has be come not only the production masterpiece, but also Etro's hallmark. This line was soon completed by accessories for menswear and womenswear: shawls, foulards, scarve and ties. Once again special emphasis was placed on precious materials, but the creative designs went as far as to explore unusual figurative and chromatic intepretations.
MADE IN ITALY
Etro S.p.A.
Via Spartaco,3 20135 Milano
Tel: +39-2-550201
Fax: +39-2-28104457
Press Office: Cecilia Brunner Muratti
Bulgari is an Italian jeweler and luxury goods retailer. The name is usually written "BVLGARI" in ancient Roman style, and is derived from the surname of the company's Greek founder, Sotirios Voulgaris (1857-1932). Although the company made a name for itself with jewelry, today it is a recognized luxury brand that markets several product lines including watches, handbags, fragrances, accessories, and hotels.
Bulgari jewelry design is distinctive and often imitated (and counterfeited). In the 1970s, many of the more expensive Bulgari pieces (such as necklaces, bracelets and earrings) were characterized by instantly recognizable, bold, almost brutal designs combining large and weighty gold links with black-surfaced steel. Genuine Bulgari items usually have a unique serial number that is registered with the company.
MADE IN ITALY
Lungotevere Marzio, 11
00186 Rome
Italy
Telephone: +39 06 688101
Telefax: +39 06 68810400
http://ir.bulgari.com
Founded in Italy in 1966, Bottega Veneta gained notoriety in the seventies and eighties for its handwoven leather bags. After that, the house struggled to find its identity. British designer Giles Deacon, accessories designer Stuart Vevers, and stylist Katie Grand joined the company in 2000 to attempt to revive its image, but Bottega was already on the verge of bankruptcy. The label regained its footing in 2001, when the Gucci Group bought it and made German designer Tomas Maier creative director. Bottega quickly became a premier luxury label known as much for ready-to-wear as for leather goods.
The “intrecciato” weave remains a fashion evergreen and shows no signs of waning, while Maier’s womenswear and menswear—super-luxe, understated, pricey—gathers momentum each season. Goddess draping, clean lines, and soft colors rule the giorno, and although the house shuns obvious logos and labels, their bags still do big business. With more than 100 stores in more than 30 countries, and a gig designing suites at the St. Regis Hotels in New York and Rome, Bottega Veneta is a lifestyle brand for those of us living the good life.
MADE IN ITALY
Viale Piceno, 17
Milan, Italy (MI) 20129
39-02-700-6061
http://www.bottegaveneta.com
Fashion Designer Ralph Lauren has become the epitome of classic fashion. With product lines such as Polo/Ralph Lauren for Men, Ralph Lauren for Women, Double RL, Ralph Lauren Home, and even Ralph Lauren paint, it makes us wonder who the man behind the label really is.
Born Ralph Lifshitz on October 14, 1939, in the Bronx, New York, Ralph Lauren has come a long way from his days of sharing a bedroom with two of his brothers. Growing up in a middle-class Jewish family, Ralph and his three older brothers were raised by his mother, while his artist father painted houses.
The Polo brand known today as the preppy English-tweed look it conveys did not get to be a million dollar empire because Lauren was lucky, nor because Lauren had an immaculate sense of style. Lauren not only had an innovative mind, but he also knew that packaging and presentation were of utmost importance -- something he didn't need to learn while studying for his business degree.
MADE IN ITALY n POLO SHIRTS MADE IN PHILIPPINES
650 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 318-7000
http://www.ralphlauren.com
http://www.polo.com/
Rocco Barocco, or Rocco Muscariello as he was christened, is an Italian ready-to-wear designer who creates collections for men, women, and children in a variety of ranges from jeans and knitwear to evening wear. Born in Naples in 1944, he moved to Rome in order to follow his chosen career path. After apprenticeship and training at the city's leading ateliers, he eventually opened his own in the Piazza di Spagna in 1968. Success was immediate, and his popularity with the Roman jetset increased his fame throughout Europe. He was soon exporting clothes to France, the U.S., and Japan.
Rocco Barocco defines his style as being rigorous, humorous, impudent, and poetically imaginative. He has a taste for the daring and avant-garde in design and detailing, such as his bright red chiffon evening gowns with bold, asymmetrically draped necklines. He also enjoys working with embroidery and gold, in particular.
MADE IN ITALY
Piazza di Spagna 81,
00187 Rome, Italy.
Diesel was founded in 1978 by Renzo Rosso and Adriano Goldschmied under the umbrella of the Genius Group. Rosso sold his shares in 1985 and took full control. Since then, the label has grown into a cult denim megabrand, expanding its scope to include fragrance, children’s clothing, womenswear, and youth apparel. The tough, street-smart aesthetic is complemented by elaborate ad campaigns, which range from political to kitschy to high glamour, and utilize the talents of photographers like Terry Richardson. Diesel is worth an estimated $1.8 billion and has more than 300 stores in 80 countries.
All Diesel collections, including licensed products, are made under the Creative Direction of Wilbert Das. The principal lines are Diesel, the main line, and Diesel Black Gold, a new collection launched in 2007 in the casual-luxury segment. The children's collection is called Diesel Kid. Diesel Denim Gallery offers limited edition denim sold in innovative art-gallery-like spaces. Diesel also offers collections of footwear, intimate (underwear), and bags. Diesel's licensed collections are eyewear (made with Safilo), jewelry and watches (Fossil), and fragrances (L'Oréal). L'Oreal and Diesel launched Fuel for Life (for him and for her) in the fall of 2007. A mini-collection for Adidas was launched in 2008 called Adidas Originals Denim by Diesel. The underwear license is held by the US company Mast Industries Inc., who also make lingerie for Victoria's Secret.
MADE IN ITALY
Via Dell' Industria, 7
36060 Molvena (VI),, Italy
39-04-24-47-75-55
www.diesel.com
The Benetton clothing line was created by three brothers and their sister in a small knitting shop in Ponzano Veneto, Italy. When their father died, Luciano (born 1935) left school to work in a clothing store in order to support his mother, sister Giuliana, and younger brothers Gilberto and Carlo.
Luciano developed promotional and commercial expertise as a clerk in a textile store in Treviso. Later, as a representative of small textile establishments, he built up contacts with the Roman knitting magnates who were helpful when the family expanded its operation. As president of the Benetton Group, Luciano led the expansion of family holdings, particularly in the 1990s. He served as a senator of the Italian Republic from 1992 to 1994. Luciano is the father of four children, including Mauro Benetton, marketing director of the Benetton Group.
The Benetton family combined and optimized their expertise in marketing (Luciano), production (Giuliana), management and finance (Gilberto) and technical know-how (Carlo). They aimed at the casual wear market with color to catch the eye, first only in woolens but later in cotton. When regional small plants producing stockings came upon hard times, the Benettons bought their equipment at bargain prices. Now they were ready for a spectacular expansion. Between 1972 and 1976, they expanded into all types of clothing, from jeans to gloves to a complete Benetton wear model. Going into the 1990s there were 14 family members in the business.
MADE IN ITALY
Benetton Group S.p.A.
Villa Minelli
31050 Ponzano Veneto, Treviso, Italy
Tel. +39-0422-519036
Fax +39-0422-519930
http://www.benetton.com
Formally trained as an architect, Italian designer Gianfranco Ferré launched his first signature womenswear collection in 1978, followed shortly with a men's collection in 1982, fragrance in 1984, and a couture line by 1986. Known for its crisp lines, exact cutting, and visible seams, Ferré’s label was influenced by his first trips to Asia. Defined by an East-meets-West aesthetic that vehemently rejects high-fashion trends, the house built its look on rigorously constructed, but casual, garments—like Ferré’s famously crisp white dress shirts decked with layered cuffs, collars, and ruffles. Sharply tailored dresses, suits, and structured ballroom skirts in ultraluxe fabrics and rich colors were recurring players in Ferré’s simple but elegant roster.
In the nineties, the house branched out with sportier ready-to-wear, fur, and high-end accessories under FERRÉ Milano, and sportswear divisions for jeans, children’s, and lower-priced accessories—consolidated in 2005 under the GF FERRÉ line. After Ferré’s death in 2007, Lars Nilsson was brought on as creative director for less than a year before being replaced by 6267 designers Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi in April 2008. Their first collection (spring 2009) won acclaim for honoring Ferré’s legacy of controlled femininity while modernizing the label with their stiff, geometric dresses in curve-conscious shapes.
MADE IN ITALY
Via Pontaccio 21
Milan, Italy 20121
39-02-721-341
www.gianfrancoferre.com
Emile-Maurice Hermés, grandson of founder Thierry Hermés, summed up the philosophy of his family's celebrated firm in the 1920s as "Leather, sport, and a tradition of refined elegance." Passed down over generations, the House of Hermés has been committed to quality in design and production for more than 160 years. At the dawn of the 21th century, the name Hermés continues to represent the ultimate in French luxury.
Hermés began as a Parisian leather goods shop in 1837, making finely wrought harnesses, bridles, and riding boots for the carriage trade. As early as 1855 Hermés was earning accolades, winning first prize in its class at the 1855 Paris Exposition. Thierry's son Emile-Charles established the current flagship store at 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, where he introduced saddlery and began retail sales. Emile-Charles sold his stake in the company to his brother, Emile Maurice, who in turn was the true visionary of the Hermés family.
Over the course of the 20th century and into the 21st, the cut of the clothing and the palettes may have changed, but the classic quality of Hermés designs have remained constant. Beyond mere status symbols, the firm's goods are the embodiment of simplicity and elegance in extremely well made and durable products. Whether it be a jacket of meltingly soft leather, a paisley silk dressing gown, a Kelly bag, a valise, or a carré, an Hermés purchase comes with the assurance that it will be stylish and appropriate for a lifetime. With more than 215 Hermés stores around the world and countless boutiques in high-end department stores in Europe, Asia, and the U.S., the Hermés name has certainly gained more prominence, but its goods land not in the hands of the masses but in the chosen few.
MADE IN FRANCE
24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré,
75008 Paris, France.
Both a reverent hush and an excited clamor simultaneously surround the Italian designer Valentino. He enjoys the patronage of a long established clientéle of wealthy and aristocratic women, yet his clothes are never staid and always express a fresh, current style. His collections and his lifestyle embody the grandeur and serenity of eternal Rome, where he works from his salon near the Spanish Steps, and at the same time represents the point of view of a jetsetting citizen of the world. In 2000 Valentino celebrated 40 years in business. The anniversary was celebrated in characteristic Valentino style in Los Angeles, atop the Pacific Design Center with a slew of celebrities in attendance to honor him.
Valentino's devotees flock to him for couture, ready-to-wear, and a vast array of products and accessories including menswear, leather goods, eyewear, furs, and fragrances. He reaches a younger market through his Oliver line of clothing, which is casual but still marked with distinctively refined Valentino sensibility. He produces a special collection of eveningwear called Valentino Night, in which the luxury of his couture designs is adapted for a wider audience. All of his designs, throughout all of his collections, express a singularly opulent view of the world. Valentino's sensibility embraces both timelessness and originality, filtered through a dedication to a luxurious way of life and the commitment to express that lifestyle in his collections. For many Valentino represents not just a style of dressing, but rather a style of living.
MADE IN ITALY
Piazza Mignanelli 22,
00187 Rome, Italy.
www.valentino.it.
Burberry was founded in 1856 when 21-year-old Thomas Burberry (1835 - 1926), a former draper's apprentice, opened his own store in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. By 1870 the business had established itself by focusing on the development of outdoors attire. In 1880 Burberry invented gabardine, a hardwearing, water-resistant yet breathable fabric, in which the yarn is waterproofed before weaving. The Gabardine was patented in 1888. Burberry was the original name, but then soon switched to Burberrys, after many customers from around the world began calling it Burberrys of London. This name is still visible on many older Burberry products.
Burberry also specially designed aviation garments. A. E. Clouston and Mrs. Betsy Kirby Green made the fastest flying time to Cape Town from London in 1937 and were sponsored by Burberry.
MADE IN UK or LONDON n ITALY
29-53 Chatham Place, Hackney, London E9 6LP, England.
www.gusplc.co.uk/burberry/html.
www.burberry.com
Christian Lacroix designs clothes that are glamorous, expensive-looking, and unapologetically dramatic. Such an aesthetic implored fame on the French label, which eventually came to epitomize the eighties through the designer's use of sumptuous fabrics (velvet, satin, taffeta) and overlapping patterns (patchwork, stripes), all of which left buyers clamoring for more. However, for such a momentous name in fashion, Lacroix fell into the industry by chance, as he spent his childhood in Arles, France and enjoyed attending bullfighting events, and then went on to study art history with dreams of becoming a museum curator or costume designer. Yet, he was destined for high fashion. Before launching his own line, he was an assistant at Hermès, collaborated with the couturier of the Tokyo Imperial Court, and then joined the House of Patou in 1981. Five years later, he launched his own couture label with the bouffant, or "pouf," a fantastical puffy skirt that soon became milestone in fashion history for its inventiveness. A year later he expanded into ready-to-wear, and then diversified into menswear in 2004. At one time part of the LVMH universe, the Falic Group bought the label in 2005. Though profitability’s been tricky, Lacroix’s pouf skirts, Renaissance-inspired tapestries, and masquerade-ball tulle and lace continue to earn critical praise. His ready-to-wear, which now includes handbags, fragrance, and shoes, can be found in more than 1,000 international stores, including twenty of his own namesake boutiques (New York opened in 2007 for the label's twentieth anniversary), as well as on the bodies of adventurous red-carpet walkers.
MADE IN FRANCE n ITALY
73, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
Paris, France 75008
33-1-42-68-79-00
www.christianlacroix.com
Coach was founded in 1941 as a family-run workshop. In a Manhattan loft, six artisans handcrafted a collection of leather goods using skills handed down from generation to generation. Discerning consumers soon began to seek out the quality and unique nature of Coach craftsmanship.
Now greatly expanded, Coach continues to maintain the highest standards for materials and workmanship. Coach’s exceptional work force remains committed to carefully upholding the principles of quality and integrity that define the company. We attribute the prominence of the Coach brand to the unique combination of our original American attitude and design, our heritage of fine leather goods and custom fabrics, our superior product quality and durability and our commitment to customer service.
MADE IN ITALY, USA, MEXICO, CHINA, JAPAN, VIETNAM n OTHER COUNTRY
Coach, Inc
516 West 34th Street
New York, New York 10001
U.S.A.
Telephone: (212) 594-1850
Fax: (212) 594-1682
http://www.coach.com
Chanel SA is one of the legendary names in perfumes. The company has parlayed its prestigious brand name into a world-leading retail empire. In addition to its flagship perfume brand Chanel No. 5--which has long been the world's top-selling perfume--Chanel has expanded its line to include women's fashions, jewelry and accessories, handbags, leather goods, and other products. While its products are sold through third parties, Chanel also operates its own network of more than 80 company-owned retail stores worldwide. There are also more than 120 Chanel shop-in-shop boutiques in leading department stores around the world. Chanel has also begun building up a portfolio of luxury brands, including gunsmith Holland & Holland and high-end French bathing suit maker Eres, bought in 1997. In 2002, rumors began circulating of a possible marriage with the famed house of Hermès. During the new millennium, Chanel has stepped up its purchases in the luxury sector, acquiring A. Michel et Cie, exclusive hat maker for the haute couture set and the famed Les broderies Lesage, which provides embroidery for the haute couture industry.
MADE IN FRANCE n ITALY
135, Avenue Charles de Gaulle
92521 Neuilly-sur-Seine Cedex
France
Telephone: (33) 1-46-43-40-00
Fax: (33) 1-47-47-60-34
http://www.chanel.com
Ermenegildo Zegna SpA is the world's leading luxury men's suit maker. Based in the mountain village of Trivero, Italy, near the Swiss border, Zegna is a vertically integrated business, producing more than two million meters of fabric, more than 350,000 finished suits, and another two million shirts, ties, sportswear, and accessories per year. Zegna develops its own fabrics from the world's finest wools--although the company does not itself own sheep herds, it works closely with breeders and farmers in Australia, South Africa, and Mongolia to ensure its supply of top-grade cashmere, mohair, and merino wool. This commitment to top quality enables the company to produce fabrics from threads as fine as just 11 microns. Eschewing the "mass market" approach of rival Armani, which does not produce its own suits, Zegna has developed an exclusive clientele throughout the world. More than 85 percent of the company's sales is achieved outside of Italy, primarily through the company's own store network. Zegna is present in more than 380 shops throughout the world, of which 135 are full-scale retail stores owned by the company, while the others operate as boutiques within department stores. Europe is the company's largest market, at 38 percent of sales, followed by North America, at 33 percent of sales. The company also has a strong presence in the Australasia region, which accounts for 25 percent of its sales and includes China, one of the group's fastest-growing markets. Zegna also has launched an extremely exclusive line of "vintage" clothing, made from the year's finest wool, for which the client chooses his own colors and styles. Ermenegildo Zegna, named for its founder, remains wholly controlled by his family, now represented by its fourth generation, cousins and co-CEOs Ermenegildo and Paolo Zegna. Other members of the Zegna family play active roles in the company.
MADE IN ITALY
5 Via Forcella
20144 Milan
Italy
Telephone: 39-0258-103-787
Fax: 39-0258-103-921
http://www.zegna.com
Since its first show in 1970 at the Salon for Prêt-à-Porter in Paris, Florence-born Roberto Cavalli has been synonymous with glam, rock, and animal prints. His flamboyant Italian style caught on quickly, and by 1972 he opened his first boutique in Saint-Tropez, a perfect French Riviera resort location to sell his signature patchworks of different materials (a printing-on-leather procedure he patented in the early seventies). The decadent life of the designer—summers on yachts, gold on everything—translates into the label, which people go to for a taste of the over-the-top Italian lifestyle. So look to Cavalli for color, and lots of it. A genius when it comes to leather, his designs are wild, sexy, erotic, and fluid. To date, Cavalli has done it all—from menswear, to womenswear, to children's clothing, to a secondary line named Just Cavalli, to designs for the home. Though he was looking for buyers of the business in 2008, no one ever took on the Cavalli kingdom, so he kept at himself—and in December he launched a nightclub, a fitting business venture for the man who designs clothes club girls love to wear.
MADE IN ITALY
Via Tevere, 14
Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy 50019
39-055-308604
www.robertocavalli.com
Aigner is the exclusive, international brand for discerning men and women. With its range of leather goods, fashion clothing and accessories, it offers a complete world of carefully blended products from head to toe. Its elegant sporty style has a distinctly Italian feel. The brand's core is a symbiosis of tradition and innovation, combining classical and modern styling. A style which transcends both time and geographical borders. The horseshoe--a symbol of good luck--and the Bordeaux red livery are the brand's distinctive symbols around the world. The Aigner emblem stands for the high quality standard set by the company and its employees; for the customer it represents authenticity, lifestyle and satisfaction.
The Aigner vision: we want those people who attach great importance to superior quality and timeless values to be able to fulfill their wishes perfectly with the Aigner brand.
Once You Have It. You Love It.
MADE IN ITALY
Marbachstrasse 9
81369 Munich
Germany
Telephone: 49 (0) 89-7 69 93 0
Fax: 49 (0) 89-7 60 77 85
http://www.aignermunich.com
Nine West Group, Inc. is a leading designer, developer, and marketer of women's casual and dress footwear, offering a full selection of women's shoes in three retail price ranges, from $25 for a pair of shoes to $150 for a pair of leather boots. The three market segments of the U.S. women's shoe market in which Nine West competes are classified by industry terms as 'better,' 'upper moderate,' and 'moderate.' Nine West has realized considerable success in both wholesale and retail operations, and the company's footwear is available through department, specialty, and independent stores nationwide, in addition to the company's own retail outlets. The company's nationally recognized brands include Enzo Angiolini, Calico, Spa, and Westies. In 1999, in the wake of slumping sales and an SEC investigation of the company's accounting practices, Nine West was purchased by Jones Apparel Group, Inc., becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary.
MADE IN CHINA
Nine West Plaza
1129 Westchester Avenue
White Plains, New York 10604
U.S.A.
Telephone: (914) 640-6400
Toll Free: 800-999-1877
Fax: (914) 640-3499
http://www.ninewest.com
BCBG Max Azria is taking the world by storm. With critically acclaimed, award winning collections, and a loyal following of Hollywood's top celebrities, BCBG Max Azria has evolved into one of the hottest names in the fashion industry today. Since its inception in 1989, designer Max Azria has developed BCBG Max Azria into a thriving lifestyle brand of shoes, sandals, boots, eyewear and watches, focused on fulfilling the ever-changing needs of modern women. Naming the label BCBG Max Azria after the Parisian phrase, “bon chic, bon genre” meaning good style, good attitude, designer Max Azria set out to combine European sophistication with American spirit, taking fashion in a new direction. The collection offers innovative, high-quality styles including BCBG Max Azria shoes, BCBG Max Azria sandals, BCBG Max Azria boots, BCBG Max Azria eyewear and BCBG Max Azria watches at realistic price-points.
The BCBG Mission: Bon Chic Bon Genre – a global vision of good style, good attitude Commitment to the highest standard of creativity, innovation, and quality in design Building a lifestyle brand that fulfills the ever changing needs of today’s modern woman Generating and maintaining strong relationships with customers through continuous communication and excellence in service.
MADE IN USA
2761 Fruitland Ave.
Vernon, California 90058
888-636-2224
www.bcbg.com
Baby Phat started as an advertising campaign. Russell Simmons, founder of young men's fashion label PHAT FARM designed some cute T-shirts as a promotional campaign for the brand.The campaign was so successful that celebrities like Tyra Banks were seen wearing the Baby Phat tees. Recognizing the potential, Russell Simmons decided to launch a new line for women and named it Baby Phat.
His wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, who was a former model of Chanel and muse to Karl Lagerfeld was brought on board to be the Creative Director of the brand.
The creative director of Baby Phat fashions, Kimora Lee Simmons is a former model and the wife of record and clothing mogul Russell Simmons. She was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri but spent her teen years as a supermodel for Chanel of Paris and others.
In 1998 she married Simmons, the founder of Def Jam Records and creator of the Phat Farm clothing brand. Kimora was put in charge of Baby Phat, a spinoff of Phat Farm, and made her reputation as a savvy businesswoman. At the same time she was appearing on various cable television programs, including the syndicated show Life and Style. Her book Fabulosity was released in 2006; the title was taken from her series of the same name on cable channel VH1. A pop culture entrepreneur with brand extensions in entertainment and consumer goods, Kimora is now rich and famous for being rich and famous.
MADE IN CHINA
BABY PHAT
512 Seventh Ave, 43rd Floor
New York, NY 10018
Contact: BJ Coleman
T: 212-997-3079
F: 212-997-3093
www.babyphat.com
Louis Vuitton began manufacturing trunks in Paris in 1854, and the company he started went on to become one of the world's most famous makers of luxury goods, known especially for its designer luggage pattern: a beige-on-chestnut monogram, "LV." Vuitton's high-quality travelling trunks were such a hit that he had to expand his factory within a few years, relocating to Asniéres in 1860. As the years went by the Vuitton line gained international recognition, thanks in part to a bronze medal at the 1867 World's Fair and a gold medal at the 1889 World's Fair, both held in Paris. After Louis died in 1892, his son, Georges, took the company to new heights, developing what is recognized as the first "designer label" on a product. (Widespread copying of Vuitton patterns pushed Georges to design the distinctive "LV" monogram.) Vuitton's luggage company has since become a world leader in luxury consumer goods, with products that include travel books, perfume, distilled spirits and designer clothing.
Georges Vuitton is also credited with developing Vuitton's unique five-combination lock... In 1936, after Georges died, his son, Gaston-Louis, took the helm of the company... In 1983 the Louis Vuitton company joined with America's Cup to form the Vuitton Cup, a preliminary competition -- called an eliminatory regatta -- for the world's most prestigious yacht race... In 1998 Vuitton entered the world of high fashion with the designs of Marc Jacobs.
MADE IN FRANCE
SHOES and ACCESSORIES MADE IN ITALY
2 Rue du Pont Neuf, Paris 75001, France.
www.vuitton.com
www.lvmh.com
This is not your grandmère's Christian Dior. Under head designer John Galliano, the fashion house has gone from outfitting ladies who lunch to women who rock. The holding company's operating unit, Christian Dior Couture, designs and makes some of the world's most coveted haute couture, as well as luxury ready-to-wear fashion and accessories (for men and women). Christian Dior operates more than 200 boutiques worldwide with plans to open more. It added skin care to its mix in 2006. Don't let the pious name fool you, though; Christian Dior is a wolf in very tight-fitting clothing due to its controlling stake in luxury goods giant LVMH. Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault and family control Christian Dior.
MADE IN EUROPE N DIOR SUNGLASSESS MADE IN GERMANY
Christian Dior SA
30 Avenue Montaigne
75008 Paris, France
Tel. +33-1-44-13-24-98
Fax +33-1-44-13-27-86
GUESS continues to be guided by two of the Marciano brothers: Maurice and Paul. Both have been instrumental to the growth and prosperity of the brand since its inception in 1981. Their passion and dedication to the company is unsurpassed in the fashion industry, and is an inspiration to all those who have the opportunity to work with them.
Maurice Marciano, Chairman, is truly the motivator behind the company's spirit and unrelenting commitment to superior quality. Maurice has overseen the company's revolutionary design direction and monumental growth, from $6 million in revenues in 1982 to an expected $1.6 billion in 2007.
MADE IN USA
Guess?, Inc.
1444 S. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90021
CA Tel. 213-765-3100
Toll Free 800-224-8377
Fax 213-744-7838
Max Mara is the best-known name of a number of lines produced by the Maramotti family which include Sportmax, Weekend (lower priced with less expensive fabrics), I Blues (separates), Penny Black and Marella (lower priced), Pianoforte (evening clothes), Max and Co, and Marina Rinaldi (for larger sized women). It is one of the largest if not the largest manufacturers of women's clothes in Italy. (An article in the International Herald Tribune dated February 27, 1990, gave the figures of 16 different labels, 300 stores, and a turnover in 1989 at wholesale prices of 544 million dollars.) By 2002, according to Italian financial newspaper Il Sole-24 Ore, there were 1,240 shops in 90 countries with 43 percent of the production exported. Sales in 2001 came to over one billion Euro, with a net profit of over 100 million Euro. Over 3,600 people work to produce the more than 40 brands sold.
MADE IN ITALY
Max Mara
Via Fratelli Cervi, 66
42100 Reggio Emilia
Tel: +39-0522-7991
Fax: +39-0522-382639
Press: Giorgio Guidotti
The trend-setting Milanese catwalks in 1986 were populated by aggressive managerial women dressed "to kill" in severly tailored suits with broad shoulders that meant "business." The "Dress for Success" look was the expression of a rampant "yuppie" society that relegated femininity to the domestic walls. In stark contrast, Romeo Gigli's pale, delicate, long-necked and barefooted models drifted into the limelight draped in simple romantic tunics that looked as soft as rose petals. He took the fashion world by storm. Romeo Gigli's women love to feel beautiful in his luxurious and sensual clothes. He has been described the "minimalist" of fashion, the master of "understatement," the "romantic intellectual".
Romeo Gigli comes from a wealthy aristocratic family, he draws on a rich culture imbibed from the 20,000 rare antiquarian books in his bigliophile father's library and on his many travels to the East. His muses are the Empress Theodora from Byzanthium, the young and beautiful women depicted in the mosaics of Ravenna's Byzantine Churches, and Piero della Francesca's virginal beauties.
MADE IN ITALY
Romeo Gigli
Corso Como 9, 20154 Milan
Tel: +39-2-6590267/8/9
Fax: +39-2-6552359
Press Office: Teresa Greco
Fiorucci is the name of a look, a new retail concept, a business and social phenomenon. In the early 1960s Fiorucci was a small shoe shop in Milan owned and run by present Fiorucci tycoon Elio's father: the elegant Milanese with money used to have their clothes and shoes made to order.
In 1962, Elio Fiorucci, then 22, took three pairs of brightly coloured plastic galoshes to a weekly Milan fashion magazine and convinced the editors to publish a photograph them and Ecco! they became an overnight sensation. A new Fiorucci was born. In 1967, when America was alive with Bob Dylan and LSD and The Doors, and the object of dress was outrage, Milan was prim, conservative, and untouched by folly. The Fiorucci Milan store began in 1967 as an alternative for shoppers.
MADE IN ITALY
Fiorucci
Galleria Passarella, 2
20122 Milano
Tel. +39-2-76022452 +39-2-76021811
Fax +39-2-76005415
Marchese Emilio Pucci grew up in Palazzo Pucci on Via dei Pucci and after the war attended the University of Seattle. In 1947 a fashion photographer for Harper's Bazaar, Toni Frisell, took a photograph of the handsome aristocrat as he was skiing on the slopes of St. Moritz, and when the editors of the magazine printed that he had designed the sleek skiwear he was wearing himself, inquiries from interested stores poured in. Inspired by the bright flags used during the Palio in nearby Siena, Pucci designed unmistakable prints using combinations of bright and pastel colors and geometric shapes on silk jersey, a fashioned them into dresses that flattered the female figure. The dresses were light and versatile, and the international nomads who started jet-setting in the early sixties found that they could pack a lot of outfits by Pucci in just one suitcase.
Pretty soon Pucci prints appeared everywhere, on shoes, purses, luggage, billfolds, bathing suits, nightgowns, and bras and bikini underpants. Pucci even produced perfumed stationery. When Braniff invited him to design uniforms for their flight attendants he invented an original approach that included a plastic helmet to preserve the women's hairdos, and bookings on Braniff shot up. The Apollo 15 crew carried a Pucci-designed flag to the moon.
In the seventies Pucci was elected to the Italian parliament, and he also began labeling and selling the wine produced on his estate in Chianti, owned by the Pucci family since the 13th century.
MADE IN ITALY
Emilio Pucci
Palazzo Pucci
Via dei Pucci 6r, Florence
Tel: +39-55-283061
Franco Moschino, who died in 1994 aged fortythree, was a man who eluded any limitating definition - including (and maye above all), that of "fashion designer". Instead, he who built a fashion empire worth 210 billion Italian lira, was well known for his scathing remarks on fashion designers, fashion shows and fashion itself.
Moschino's yearly advertising campaigns were always accompanied by challenging and often impudent slogans like: "Warning: fashion shows can be dangerous to your health", "Life is many attitudes, so is fashion", and "Good taste doesn't exist". Provocation became his trademark, but also his way of telling people not to become victims of fashion, not to forego their individuality, not to let themselves be manipulated by what he called the evil media, and above all, not to forget the really important issues in life. Coherent was his personal commitment to ecology and to human and animal rights, which he expressed in his designs, in the choice of his materials and in his ad campaigns. The fact that his clothes were extremely well made by the AEFFE factory near Forli` didn't hurt, either. Moschino declared that he donated much of his income to charity organisations.
MADE IN ITALY
Moschino (Moon Shadow S.p.a.)
Via Ceradini 11/A, 20129 Milan
Tel: +39-27610200
Fax: +39-2-719179
Prada had a reputation as a company that made high-quality leather goods and various fashion accessories and sold them in their store in Milan. So when suddenly one day the name "Prada" became synonomous with "Hot" and "Must-have-fashion" it was not surprising that the solid reputation for attention to detail and quality meant the company was able to take advantage of the sudden attention thrust upon it.
MADE IN ITALY
Prada
Via Maffei 2, 20135 Milan
Tel: +39-2-546701
Fax: +39-2-55180083
Press Office: Paola Vanin
Back in the late twenties before most of the big names in Italian fashion were even born, Salvatore Ferragamo was crafting beautiful shoes for some of the most famous feet in Hollywood. Born in Bonito, near Naples, one of 14 children. By the time he was nine he knew that he wanted to make shoes for a living, and convinced his peasant father (who considered shoemaking too lowly a profession) to allow him to move to Naples and become an apprentice. The wave of Italian immigrants to the United States had not yet ended, and by fourteen the youngster was on a slow boat to America.
MADE IN ITALY
Salvatore Ferragamo
Via Tornabuoni 2, 50123 Florence
Tel: +39-55-43951
Fax: +39-55-5395215