They're the must-have fashion design labels, the status brands that we just have to wear. But some labels and designers have become such a part of our fashion culture that it's easy to forget that they weren't always successful brands. At one point, the founders were fashion school students, stock boys or sales clerks. In fact, learning about how the designers got their start makes one admire them even more. Here, then, are some top fashion labels and the story of their humble beginnings.
Marc Jacobs. One of today's top design celebrities, Marc Jacobs' first job in fashion was as a stock boy at Charavari, an avant-garde clothing boutique in Manhattan. After graduating from high school, he went to fashion college, where he launched a line of hand-knit sweaters. His first job out of fashion school was at Perry Ellis, but he designed a grunge collection there that led to his dismissal. In 1986, with the help of financial backers, he designed his first collection bearing the Marc Jacobs label.
Kenneth Cole. Not many people realize that the full name of Kenneth Cole's brand is "Kenneth Cole Productions." Why is that? In 1982, the designer wanted to show his first line of shoes at Market Week at the New York Hilton, but couldn't afford a hotel room or exhibit space. So instead, he parked a trailer two blocks from the hotel to sell his shoes. The only catch was that only production companies were granted permits to park trailers on the street. Not letting that stop him, he turned his shoe company into a film production company, shooting a documentary about his business and selling 40,000 pairs of shoes in the process.
Juicy Couture. The label that popularized the velour track suit was founded by fashion school grad Pamela Skaist-Levy and and Gela Nash-Taylor, wife of Duran Duran's John Taylor. Believe it or not, their first product was maternity pants. After changing the brand's focus to active wear, the brand continued to struggle until they sent a free track suit to Madonna with "Madge" emblazoned on it. The superstar was photographed wearing it in public, and Juicy Couture was on the map.
Vera Wang. She may be known for her elegant wedding gowns and costumes for figure skaters like Michelle Kwan, but Vera Wang actually started out as a figure skater as well. She competed at the 1968 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and was one of "Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd" that year. She failed to make the U.S. Olympic team and began a career in fashion journalism. She was a senior fashion editor for "Vogue" for 16 years, but left when she was turned down for the top job that Anna Wintour secured. She then became a design director at Ralph Lauren before striking out on her own.
Anna Sui. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Anna Sui loved fashion as a little girl, clipping out fashion magazine pages for her scrapbook. After attending fashion college, she worked for various junior sportswear companies by day, and designing her own clothing by night, eventually launching her own label out of her tiny New York apartment.
Ralph Lauren. Born Ralph Lifshitz, the designer's first foray into fashion was selling neckties to his fellow classmates at his Talmudical academy. After serving in the U.S. Army, he worked for Brooks Brothers as a sales clerk. In 1967, he became an entrepreneur and opened a necktie store where he sold various labels, including his own, which he called "Polo." He soon introduced men's and women's suits to his line, and eventually gained international recognition when he designed the clothes for the Robert Redford movie, "The Great Gatsby."
These brands may have started out small, but they became fashion giants. And that's inspiration indeed for anyone wanting to break into fashion design.
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