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] AP Furniture Story September 1997, 1997
This folder contains multiple copies of an AP article about home decoration and associated fax transmittal forms.
BB [Bill Blass] AP Story January 26, 1998, 1998
This folder contains 3 copies of a transcript of a profile on Bill Blass by the associated press with notes and fax transmittal forms.
BB [Bill Blass] Apt of John Lindsey March 6, 1997, 1997
This folder contains the announcement of the appointment of John Lindsey as sales director, and related fax transmittal forms.
BB [Bill Blass] Asian Press Fall 1996, 1996
This folder contains press clippings, press lists and correspondance.
BB [Bill Blass] Atlanta Journal Fall 1999, April 2, 1999, 1999
This folder contains a letter from journalist A. Scott Walton and photocopies of his articles for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution covering the Fall 1999 runway shows.
BB [Bill Blass] Avenue March 2000, 2000
This folder contains the March 2000 issue of Avenue magazine which features a Bill Blass design in a trend review of the Spring 2000 collections.
BB [Bill Blass] Chicago Tribune September 14, 1997, 1997
This folder contains the Home section of the Chicago Tribune from Sep 14, 1997 featuring an article about Bill Blass furniture, and three drafts of the press release.
BB [Bill Blass] Civilization Event September 17, 1998, 1998
This folder contains notes, schedules, an RSVP list, press list, and "Media Alert" pertaining to the September 17, 1998 cocktail reception at which Barbara Walters led a toast honoring Bill Blass and Civilization Magazine.
BB [Bill Blass] Civilization Mag, August/September 1998, 1998
This folder contains notes, drafts, correspondence, and schedules related to the August/September issue of Civilzation magazine that Bill Blass guest edited, as well as the cover and clippings from the magazine.
BB [Bill Blass] Daily News March 11, 1999, 1999
This folder contains a clipping featuring a fashion quiz that mentions Bill Blass from the Mardch 11, 1999 issue of the Daily News.