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:
CFDA Correspondence 1981-1982, 1981-1982
This folder contains correspondence, press clippings, members lists, minutes from the meeting at the Bill Blass showroom, and press releases in regards to the creation of the CFDA awards.
CFDA Designer Hemlines Statements 1970, 1970
CFDA General Info 1985-1988, 1985-1988
This folder contains correspondence, minutes for the meeting at the Bill Blass showroom, press clippings, a CFDA awards invitation, the minutes for the meeting at the Perry Ellis showroom, and a copy of the CFDA bylaws.
CFDA Jan 14 1982 Invitations and Citations, 1982
This folder contains a CFDA awards dinner invitation, correspondence, typed remarks for Donna Karan, Oscar De La Renta, Roger Stevens, and Bill Blass.
CFDA Lambert CFDA Files to be Scanned, 1944-1979, CFDA winners, 1944-1979
This folder contains correspondence, 8 x 10 black and white photographs of designer portraits and ensembles by the designers, and biographies of winning designers. Designers photographed include: Mollie Parnis, Halston, Trigere, David Evans, Calvin Klein, Adrian, Arnold Scaasi, Anna Potok, John Weitz, Thomas Brigance, Sydney Wragge, Bill Blass, and Willi Smith.
CFDA Meeting Jan 8, 1981, 1981
This folder contains minutes for the meeting at the Bill Blass showroom, correspondence, and members lists.
CFDA Meeting May 19, 1981, 1981
This folder contains members lists and minutes for the meeting at the Bill Blass showroom.
CFDA Meetings April 16,1980-June 10 1980, 1980
This folder contains minutes for the meeting at the Herbert Kasper showroom, the minutes of the meeting at the Bill Blass showroom, and invoices.
CFDA Minutes of Meeting Jan 1969, 1969
This folder contains the minutes of a meeting of the CFDA at the Four Seasons Restaurant on January 8, 1969. Discusses was Operation VIP involving fashion and the veterans hospital. Beth Levine and Bill Blass made statements. Included is a members roster with notes as to who was present.
CFDA Minutes of Special Meeting 1980, 1980
This folder contains the minutes of the meeting at the Bill Blass showroom.