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] Newsday April 8, 1999, 1999
This folder contains a clipping and photocopy of a Newsday article from April 8, 1999 that mentions Bill Blass's Fall 1999 showing, and a related fax transmittal form.
BB [Bill Blass] Newspaper, Furniture September-October 1997, 1997
This folder contains photocopies of 11 articles about Bill Blass furniture and a list of press responses and articles.
BB [Bill Blass] NY Daily News April 3, 1998, 1998
This folder contains a clipping from the April 3, 1998 issues of the NY Daily News featuring designs from the Bill Blass fall 1998 collection.
BB [Bill Blass] NY magazine April 26, 1999, 1999
This folder contains the April 26, 1999 issue of New York magazine.
BB [Bill Blass] NY magazine November 24, 1997, 1997
This folder contains the November 24, 1997 issue of New York magazine that includes an article about American fashion featuring Bill Blass and several other designers.
BB [Bill Blass] NY Observer August 24, 1998, 1998
This folder contains two clippings and a photocopy of an article about Bill Blass from the August 24, 1998 issue of the New York Observer.
BB [Bill Blass] NY Post April 3, 1998, 1998
This folder contains two clippings from the April 3, 1998 New York Post of an article about the Fall 1998 fashion shows, including Bill Blass designs.
BB [Bill Blass] NY Post April 7, 1999, 1999
This folder contains two clippings of an article from the April 7, 1999 New York Post announcing that Bill Blass has retracted his statement that he will be retiring and will show his Fall 1999 collection that day.
BB [Bill Blass] NY Post April 12, 1999, 1999
This folder contains two clippings from the April 12, 1999 issue of the New York Post covering the Fall 1999 late showings, including Bill Blass.
BB [Bill Blass] NY Post August 31, 1998, 1998
This folder contains two clippings from the New York Post, from August 31 and September 1 1998, that mention Bill Blass.