Born: Near Paris, 25 December 1933. Education: Studied at the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne.
Born: London, England, 21 June 1961. Education: Self-taught in design.
Born: New York, 20 March 1956. Education: Studied painting, then fashion design at Parsons School of Design, New York, graduated in 1978.
Born: Dorothea Naomi Seale in Jerusalem, 24 December 1927; raised in Damascus, Syria. Education: Studied French and Old English at London University, 1949-50; studied art at Royal Holloway College, Egham, Surrey.
Founded: by Mario Prada (born in Milan, Italy in 1913) and his brother as a luxury leather goods company; taken over by granddaughter Miuccia Bianchi Prada, 1978. Miuccia Prada began designing for company, early 1980s; married Patirizio Bertelli, 1989.
Born: Bradford, England, 1945. Education: Studied at Bradford School of Art and the Royal College of Art, 1965-68.
Established: by Robert Pringle in Cross Wynd, Hawick, Scotland in 1815 and known worldwide for quality sweaters. Company History: Acquired by Dawson International Plc., 1967; segued into luxury goods market and aggressively opened retail shops, 1993-94; scaled back and converted stores to franchises, 1995; incurred substantial losses and reduced workforce, 1997-98; sold to S.C.
Born: Marchese Emilio Pucci di Barsento in Naples, 20 November 1914. Education: Attended the University of Milan, 1933-35, University of Georgia, 1935-36, Reed College, Portland, Oregon, 1936-37; M.A., 1937; Ph.D., University of Florence, 1941.
Born: Lillian McKim in Roslyn, New York. Family: Married Herbert (Pete) Pulitzer (divorced, 1969); married Enrique Rousseau (died 1993); children: Peter, Minnie, Liza.
Born: Kent, 11 February 1934. Education: Studied art and design at Goldsmith's College of Art, London University, 1952-55.
Born: Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo in San Sebastian, Spain, 18 February 1934; raised in France. Education: Studied architecture at l'École Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1952-55.
Born: London, 19 August 1922. Education: Studied at Harrow School.
Founded: in London, 1982, by Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway (both born 1961); incorporated in 1983. Company History: Specialized in customized second-hand clothing and Doc Marten shoes and boots; produced Space Baby collection, 1989; approached by Marks & Spencer to consult on shoes, 1993; introduced Dead Basic collection, 1994; opened store in Tokyo, 1994; participated in Cool Britannia, 1998; debuted website.
Born: 12 February 1964, in Detroit, Michigan. Education: Cass Technical High School; Parsons School of Design, graduated 1984.
Founded: René Lezard Mode GmbH founded in 1978, Schwarzach, Wurzburg, by Thomas Schaefer. Company History: Specializes in womenswear, sportswear, and menswear; main lines are Classic, Excess, Sophisticated, plus Denim House; licensee products include shirts (Asoni), ties (Albisetti), belts (Condor), and leather accessories (Traveller); added footwear line, 2000; exports to Europe, U.S, and Asia; annual show at Herren-Mode-Woche (Cologne).
Born: Warsaw, Poland, 3 March 1889; immigrated to the U.S. in 1902.
Studied retailing at College of St. Elizabeth, Morristown, New Jersey, 1958-60, and design at Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, 1960-61, with associate degree in Applied Arts.
Born: Zandra Lindsey Rhodes in Chatham, Kent, England, 19 September 1940. Education: Studied textile design, Medway College of Art, 1959-61, and Royal College of Art, 1961-64.
Born: Manchester, England, 1960. Education: Graduated from Kingston Polytechnic, 1982.
Born: At Barnard Castle, County Durham, England, 2 January 1945. Education: Studied at Queen Mary's School, Lytham St.
Born: circa 1948. Education: Graduated from Parsons School of Design, New York.
Born: Paris, 1902. Career: Opened fashion house in rue Faubourg St-Honoré, Paris, 1924; moved to avenue Matignon, 1931; first perfume launched, 1936; fragrances lab scents discontinued, during World War II; Parfums Rochas S.A.
Founded: by Eugene Rodier, 1848. Company History: Entered ready-to-wear knit wear, 1956; U.S.
Born: Jane Carolyne Smith in Kirksville, Missouri, 7 May 1951. Education: Graduated from Washington University, St.
Born: New York City, 12 February 1969. Education: Special student, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, 1986-87; studied fashion design at Parsons School of Design, New York, 1987-88.