Blass, Bill (1922-2002)
Dates
- Existence: 1922-2002
Biography
Bill Blass was born William Ralph Blass on June 22, 1922 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Blass attended Parsons School of Design at the age of 17. Roughly around the same time, Blass worked as a sketch artist for David Crystal, a Seventh Ave manufacturer. He served three years in the U.S. army during WWII. After the war, he returned to design, first working as an assistant with Anne Klein and ultimately finding work at Anna Miller and Co. in New York. Bill Blass became the head designer for Maurice Rentner in 1959, LTD, after the firm merged with Anna Miller and Co. 11 years later, Blass became sole owner of Rentner and renamed the company after himself. By this time, Blass had already won acclaim in the fashion industry, winning a Coty award in 1968 for his menswear designs. Bill Blass would go on to win two more Coty Awards, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987 and the Humanitarian Leadership Award in 1996. From 1979 to 1981, Blass served as the honorary president for the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Bill Blass sold his business in 1999 for a rumoured $50 million. Bill Blass passed away at the age of 79 in 2002.
Found in 248 Collections and/or Records:
BB [Bill Blass] Quest My New York October 1998, 1998
This folder contains a cover, clipping, and photocopy of Quest magazine from October 1998 featuring an article written by Bill Blass about him becoming a NYC landmark.
BB [Bill Blass] Show Programs Spring 1998, November 6, 1997, 1997
This folder contains a program and invitiation to the Bill Blass Spring 1988 fashion show.
BB [Bill Blass] Signapore release December 2, 1996, 1996
This folder contains press releases, correspondance and hand-written notes.
BB [Bill Blass] Spring 97 photos November 1996, 1996
This folder contains an invitation and programs to the Spring 97 fashion show, 3 5x7 photographs and 5 5x7 negatives.
BB [Bill Blass] Spring 1999 Mailing, 1998-1999
This folder contains address lists, photocopies of handwritten address labels, and correspondence pertaining to press contacts dating from 1998 to 1999.
BB [Bill Blass] Steven Porter's Obituary, 1997, 1997
This folder contains the obituary of Steven Porter, sales director of Bill Blass, clipped from WWD.
BB [Bill Blass] Sunshine Sun Sentinel April 11, 1999, 1999
This folder contains the April 11, 1999 issue of Sunshine, the Sunday magazine of the Sunday Sun Sentinel, which contains fashion features that include Billl Blass looks.
BB [Bill Blass] Sunshine Sun Sentinel August 29, 1999, 1999
This folder contains the August 29, 1999 issue of Sunshine, the Sunday magazine of the Sun-Sentinel, which includes a fall fashion preview picturing a Bill Blass design.
BB [Bill Blass] T+C "Bill's Blast" 2000, 2000
This folder contains a clipping from the June 2000 issue of Town and Country magazine featuring photographs from a gala at the Waldorf-Astoria where Blass received the Lighthouse International's 2000 Lifetime Achievement Award.
BB [Bill Blass] The Collector's Collection Fall 1997, 1997
This folder contains a folder with a press release, designer bio, and 5 8x10 black and white photographs of looks from the Fall 1997 collection, as well as photocopies of magazine articles from April and May 1997.