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] WWD October 28, 1999, 1999
This folder contains 3 copies of the October 28, 1999 issue of Women's Wear Daily which features a cover headline and article about the sale of Bill Blass's design and liscencing company via a Bill Blass bond to Haresh T. Tharani, chairman of The Resource Club Ltd, and Michael Groveman, CFO of Bill Blass Ltd.
BB [Bill Blass] WWD Profiles September 1999, 1999
This folder contains the cover and a clipping of the Bill Blass profile from the September 1999 WWD Profiles.
BB [Bill Blass] WWD September 17, 1999, 1999
This folder contains three clippings, including covers, of the September 17, 1999 Women's Wear Daily, which features a Bill Blass design from his final ready-to-wear collection on the cover.
BB [Bill Blass] Yvonne Miller Pic Vogue April 1997, 1997
This folder contains one page from Vogue.
BB [Blass] New York Times September 17, 1999, 1999
This folder contains a clipping of an article reviewing the Spring 2000 runway shows including Bill Blass, from the September 17, 1999 issue of the New York Times.
Bill Blass, 1970-1974, 1970-1974
This folder contains black and white 8x10" fashion photographs of outerwear by Bill Blass.
Bill Blass for Maurice Rentner, 1967, 1967
This folder contains two 8x10" black and white fashion photos of ensembles by Bill Blass for Maurice Rentner.
Blass NY Times April 3, 1998, 1998
This folder contains a clipping a three photocopies of an article from the New York Times from April 3, 1998 about Blass, De La Renta, and beads.
Blass Press Kit Mailing Fall 1998, April 2, 1998, 1998
This folder contains a press kitfor the Fall 1998 collection which includes a folder, "Simply Sportswear" descriptive page, biography, press release for the fragrance, 8x10 black and shite portrait of Blass, and photocopies of articles about Blass. This folder also contains two color and two black and white 8x10 photographs of looks from the Fall 1998 collection and two promotional images of sketches.
CFDA Agreement HMH Communication 1981-1982, 1981-1982
This folder contains correspondence, minutes of the meeting at the showroom of Bill Blass, a copy of the agreement between the CFDA and HMH communications,