Born: Gravesend, Kent, England, 4 March 1950. Education: Northfleet Secondary School; studied at Medway College of Design, 1966-68, and at Hornsey College of Art (now Middlesex University), London, 1968-71; first-class honours.
Born: Bristol, England, 1 August 1951. Education: Studied at Middlesex Polytechnic, 1971-74; Royal College of Art, London, 1974-76.
Founded: in 1882 by Joel and Benson Goodman in New York City. Company History: Founded as a dry goods store; imported hosiery items introduced in 1923.
Born: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 22 July 1932. Education: Studied art, National School of Art, Santo Domingo, 1950-52; Academia de San Fernando, Madrid, 1953-55.
Born: New York, 23 July 1948. Education: Graduated from Parsons School of Design, 1969.
Born: Kortrijk, Belgium, 29 December 1959. Education: Studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp, 1978-81.
Born: Pays Basque region of France, 1949. Career: Assistant to Popy Moreni; freelance designer; designer, Prémonville et Dewavrin, from 1983; also freelance designer for Fiorucci; chose Michael Atchison & Associates, Inc.
Born: Jacqueline de Beaumont in Paris, 1931. Education: Studied architecture.
Born: Paris, 16 October 1946. Education: Studied at Notre Dame des Oiseaux school in Paris.
Born: Jean Dimitre Verginie, in Alexandria, Egypt, 6 August 1904. Education: Studied law, then design, in Paris.
Born: Granville, France, 21 January 1905. Education: Studied political science at École des Sciences Politiques, Paris, 1920-25.
Established: by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, 1982. Dolce born in Palermo, Italy, 13 August 1958; Gabbana born in Venice, Italy, 14 November 1962.
Born: Orense, Spain, 1950. Education: Graduated with degree in philosophy, Universidad Santiago de Compostela, 1968; studied cinematography and aesthetics in Paris and London.
Founded: by Jacqueline (designer) and Elie (manufacturer) Jacobson in 1962. Company History: Became known for casual knitwear; opened first Dorothée boutique in Paris, 1958; first Jacqueline Jacobson collection shown and opening of Dorothée Bis boutique, 1962; boutiques found in Henri Bendel and Bloomingdale's, New York; Jacqueline served as set designer for film The Weekend, 2000.
Born: Las Vegas, Nevada. Education: Scholarship to study music, University of Southern California, turned to theatre and making costumes; graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles.
Founded: in 1920 by Eddie Bauer, in Seattle, WA. Company History: Patented quilted goose down jacket, 1936; developed B-9 Flight Parka, 1942; Bauer sold company to partner William Niemi, 1968; company sold to General Mills, 1971; Ford produced first Eddie Bauer Edition vehicle, 1983; Spiegel purchases company, 1988; 100th store opening, 1989; formed partnerships with Lane Company for furniture, 1997; Giant Bicycle, Signature Eyewear, and Cosco, Inc., all 1998; stores in all 50 states, 2000.
Born: Cape Town, South Africa, 27 September 1958. Education: Attended University of Southern California, B.S., 1982.
Born: Casablanca, Morocco, 1961. Education: Graduated from Shenkar College of Textile Technology and Fashion, Tel Aviv, Israel, circa 1988; studied with Geoffrey Beene, New York, circa 1989-96.
Born: Perry Edwin Ellis in Portsmouth, Virginia, 30 March 1940. Education: Bachelor of Arts, business, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1961; Master of Arts, retailing, New York University, New York City, 1963.
Born: David— Bridgend, Wales, 17 November 1952; Elizabeth— born Elizabeth Weiner in London, 5 July 1953. Education: David— Attended Cardiff School of Art, Wales, 1972-75, and Harrow School of Art, Middlesex, 1974-75.
Founded: by Helen and Judy Littman, 1982; Helen Littman born in Brighton, Sussex, 1955; studied at Brighton and Hove High School for Girls, 1966-72; Eastbourne College of Art and Design, 1972-74; Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts, 1974-77; founded Personal Items design company with Judy Littman, 1979. Company History: Began printing under name English Eccentrics, 1982; English Eccentrics made a limited company, 1984; opened Fulham Road, London, shop, 1987; first catwalk show, London, 1985; designed scarves for Royal Academy, London, 1989; Royal Pavilion, Harvey Nichols, and Girl Guides Association, 1990; designed scarf and clothing for Joseph, London, 1990; Exhibitions: Mad Dogs and Englishmen, Young Designer Show, London, October 1983; London Goes to Tokyo, Hanae Mori Building, Tokyo, November 1984; Innovators in Fashion, Pitti Palace, Florence, October 1985; British Design, Vienna, 1986; British Scarves, London, 1987; British Design, New Traditions, Boymans Museum, Rotterdam, 1989; British Design, Tokyo, 1990; British Design 1790-1990, Costa Mesa, California, 1990; Collecting for the Future, Victoria & Albert Museum, London 1990.
Founded: in 1910 by Ermenegildo Zegna (1892-1966) in Trivero, Biellese Alps, Italy. Company History: Business turned over to sons, Aldo and Angelo, who expanded into ready-to-wear clothing, menswear line, 1960s; opened branches in Spain, France, Germany, Austria, U.S., Japan, and United Kingdom; group-controlled production units opened in Spain and Switzerland, 1968; specializes in men's ready-to-wear; first U.S.
Founded: by Ermanno Ronchi (born 28 May 1947) and Graziella Ronchi Pezzutto (born 24 November 1945) in Milan, 1971. Company History: Added Donnaerre line of women's clothes, 1981; Erreuno Uomo line, 1985; Erreuno Jeans collection, 1986; Graziella Ronchi Cocktail line, 1986; Erreuno Golf lines, 1989; Erreuno J line, designed by Michael Kors, introduced in U.S, 1990; launched first fragrance, 1994; signed with Guaber Group to license fragrances, 1995; second fragrance launched with fall ready-to-wear line, 1996; Guglielmo Capone hired as stylist.
Founded: by Wolfgang and Margarethe Ley (died 1992) in Munich, 1976. Company History: Expanded throughout Germany, then into U.S., 1982; company went public, 1986; began opening retail stores in Europe and U.S., from 1987; granted license for Nino Cerruti womenswear, 1989; Escada leather goods, from 1990, and Apriori bridge line, from 1991; purchased U.S.-based St.
Cofounded: as Plain Jane Dress Company by Susie and Doug Tompkins and Jane Tise in San Francisco, 1968; the Tompkins became sole owners, 1975; couple divorced, 1989; shares sold to Susie Tompkins, 1990; company incorporated and name changed to Esprit de Corp., 1970; Company History: Worldwide sales reached more than $1 billion by 1987; Esprit Men designed in Dusseldorf and launched in Europe, 1989; Ecollection, environmentally friendly line using organic fabrics and low impact fibers, launched, 1992; ready-to-wear in Japan, 1993; 240 retail stores worldwide by 1994; Susie Tompkins line discontinued, 1995; creditors take over, Tompkins replaced by Jay Margolis, 1996; joint venture with China Resources Enterprises, 1997; celebrated 30th anniversary and launched DKNY toddler and infant line, 1998; lost DKNY children's license to Oxford Industries, 2000; Margolis departed and Joe Hein took the reins, 2000; debuted Esprit Scents and Senses line of fragrances, 2001; signed licensing deals for sleepwear, outerwearm and swimsuits, 2001. Company Address: 900 Minnesota Street, San Francisco, CA 94107, U.S.A.