Jacobs, Marc, 1963- (1963-)

Dates

• Existence: 1963-

Biography

Marc Jacobs was born on April 9, 1963, the son of two theatrical agents. His father died when he was only 7 years old. He went to live with his grandmother, who taught him how to knit. After his graduation at the High School of Art & Design, he entered Parson's School of Design, and in his final year (1984) created a collection of handknit sweaters (made by his grandmother) which won him the Perry Ellis Golden Thimble award. After graduating, he designed under his own label for two years, creating irreverent take-offs of 60's hippie style clothing and versions of patchwork and gingham. While studying, Marc Jacobs won many prizes including "Design Student of the Year 1984". This gave Marc Jacobs the opportunity to start his first ready-to-wear collection for Ruben Thomas Inc. In 1986, with the support of Kashyama USA Inc., Marc Jacobs designed his first collection with his own "Marc Jacobs" label. In 1987 Marc Jacobs received the "Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent", the highest tribute possible in the American fashion world. In 1989 Marc Jacobs joined Perry Ellis and was named Vice-President of Women's Design. While at Perry Ellis, Marc Jacobs created the designer collection as well as overseeing the various women's licensees. In 1992, the CFDA once again bestowed Jacobs with a distinct honor: Womenswear Designer of the Year.

As a womenswear designer for sportswear label Perry Ellis, Jacobs was fired in 1993 after designing a now infamous grunge collection along with business partner Robert Duffy. He then went back to designing under his own label. In 1994, Jacobs produced his first full collection of menswear. In 1997, he was voted Womenswear Designer of the Year by the CFDA. In the same year, Jacobs was appointed Louis Vuitton's creative director, where he created the company's first ready-to-wear clothing line. Jacobs has collaborated with many popular artists for his Louis Vuitton collections, including Stephen Sprouse, Takashi Murakami and most recently American artist Richard Prince and rapper Kanye West. He has introduced modern pop and kisch into their sedate image. He is credited with turning Louis Vuitton into a global fashion powerhouse, quadrupling its profits within 10 years of being there. Robert Duffy is Jacobs business partner, who has worked with him from his earliest days at Perry Ellis. In the spring of 2001, Jacobs introduced his secondary line, Marc by Marc Jacobs. His three Marc Jacobs collections—two for adults and one for children—are sold at dozens of Marc Jacobs boutiques worldwide. He has also licensed his name to perfumes and accessories. The Council of Fashion Designers of America named him the Menswear Designer of the Year in 2002, and Accessories Designer of the Year in 1998/99, 2003 and 2005. In 2011 the CFDA honored Jacobs with its prestigious Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records: