Founded: as Knickerbocker Knitting Company by Abe and Bill Fainbloom, in 1919. Company History: Named changed to Champion Knitting Mills, Inc.; introduced reversible t-shirts for Navy training, 1940s; introduced the Jogbra, 1977; acquired by Sara Lee Corporation; official outfitter for U.S.
Born: Saumur, France, 19 August 1883. Education: At convent orphanage, Aubazine, 1895-1900; convent school, Moulins, 1900-02.
Born: Cairo, Egypt, c. 1943.
Founded: by Jacques Lenoir and Gaby Aghion, in 1952; Company History: Acquired by Dunhill Holdings, Plc., 1985, and by Vendome, 1993; Karl Lagerfeld, designer, 1965-83, and again from 1992-97; Martine Sitbon, designer, 1987-91; Stella McCartney, designer, 1997-2001; Phoebe Philo, hired as designer, 2001. Fragrances include Narcisse, 1992.
Born: Penang, Malaysia. Education: Entered Cordwainer's Technical College, London, 1980.
Born: Elizabeth Claiborne in Brussels, Belgium, 31 March 1929, to American parents from New Orleans; moved to New Orleans, 1939. Education: Studied art at Fine Arts School and Painters Studio, Belgium, 1947, and at the Nice Academy, 1948; self-taught in design.
Born: Raymond Clark in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, 2 June 1942. Education: Studied fashion design, Manchester College of Art, 1957-61, and Royal College of Art, 1961-65.
Born: 18 July 1934, in Paris, France. Education: École Superieure de Commerce, Paris.
Born: 23 March 1954 in Brooklyn, New York. Education: Emory University, 1976.
Founded: in Chicago by Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan, 1928. Company History: Cole Haan sold to group of partners headed by George Denney, 1975; launched retail division, 1982; sold to Nike for $80 million, 1988; repositioned under Modern Artisan theme, late 1990s; redesigned retail stores, 2000; signed license with G-III for apparel, 2000; licensed Air technology from Nike for Cole Haan shoes, 2000.
Born: circa 1960. Education: Graduated from St.
Founded: Formed by Fred Cole from family knitwear firm in Los Angeles, 1923. Company History: Began collaborating with Hollywood costume designer Margit Fellegi, 1936; signed Esther Williams to represent the company, 1950; began producing swimwear from Christian Dior, 1955; purchased by Kayser-Roth, early 1960s; sold to the Wickes Company; launched Anne Cole Collection, 1982; signed licensing agreement with Adrienne Vittadini, 1983-93; company purchased by Taren Holdings, 1989; Juice junior line debuted, 1990; acquired by Authentic Fitness Corp., combined with Catalina to form Catalina Cole, 1993; Anne Cole introduced the "tankini," 1997; ultimate parent, Warnaco, filed for bankruptcy protection, 2001.
Born: Sybil Veronica Connolly in Swansea, Ireland, 21 January 1921. Education: Sisters of Mercy Convent.
Born: London, 12 December 1959. Education: Attended Bryanston School, Dorset; studied at Parsons School of Design, New York, 1975-77.
Founded: in Mantova, Italy, 1930s. Company History: Modernized, 1958, by Carlalberto (born 1931) and Claudio Corneliani (born 1921), Sergio Corneliani (born 1959) became chief designer; lines include Via Ardigo, Styled by Corneliani, Corneliani, Corneliani Trend, and Corneliani Sportswear; trademarks include Nino Danieli, Browngreen, and Full Time; producers and manufacturers, beginning in 1984, for Daniel Hechter, Erreuno, Karl Lagerfeld, Krizia Uomo, Trussardi, and Renoma; costume designers for various films, including Little Women; Carlalberto Corneliani, president of Italy's fashion committee Comitato Moda, 1976 and president of Federtessile, Italian textile association, 1991; opened Milan flagship store, 1997; acquired Polo Ralph Lauren license for North America, 1998; expanded Polo distribution into Europe, 2000; signed license with Chinese company for manufacture and distribution of Corneliani-branded products in Asia, 2000; launched casual Trend line into U.S.
Studied political science, University of Bologna. Career: Apprenticed in textile companies in Lyon, France, 1967, and in England and Germany; freelance designer with own boutique, Pam Pam, in Riccione, Italy, 1968; opened second boutique with brother Lamberto in Milan, 1969; designer for Fancy, New Delhi, 1972-73; designed UFO jeans for Gruppo Zanella, Italy, from 1974; designer for Daniel Hechter, Paris, 1975; formed Giorgio Correggiari SrL, 1975; designed Cadette collection, 1977; launched Giorgio Correggiari womenswear line, 1977; also in 1970s designed menswear for Herno, leatherwear for IGI of Perugia, Reporter line of menswear in USA, Cleo and Pat knitwear, furs for Pellegrini (1970-73), Trifurs (1976), and Bencini (until 1985); consultant to International Wool Secretariat, adviser to Cantoni on printed velvets, 1979; adviser to International Cotton Institute, Brussels, Lana Gatto wool mill, and Tessitura e Filature di Tollegno, Italy; designer for Divi, 1986; produced line of leather coats for Robrik and young jackets and raincoats for Coral; designer for SAHZA House of Fashion, Valencia, Italy.
Born: 17 December 1935, Houston, Texas, Education: Studied fashion design at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, University of Houston, and École d'Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, Paris, 1954-58. Family: Married Terry Costa, 1958; children: Kevin, Adrienne.
Born: Dublin, Ireland, 27 June 1945. Education: Studied at the École d'Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, Paris, 1968-69.
Born: Pau, Pyrenées Atlantiques, 9 March 1923. Education: Studied engineering at École des Pont et Chaussées; studied fashion in Pau and Paris.
Born: Prato, Italy, 26 February 1952. Education: Studied stage design, Accademia delle Belle Arti, Florence, 1971-74.
Born: Edmonton, Canada, 19 March 1963. Education: Studied at Cordwainers College, Hackney, London, 1983-85.
Based in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, C.P. Company produces menswear fashions designed principally by Massimo Osti; Company History: Introduced women's line, mid-1990s; U.S.
Born: Liége, Belgium, 21 May 1917. Education: Studied fashion and art in Paris, 1934-35; worked in his mother's dressmaking salon, Liége, 1936-39; salesman, Jane Regny, Paris, circa 1939.
Born: Klagenfurt, Austria, in 1944. Education: Art Academy, Perugia, Italy; Zeichenakademie, Hanau, West Germany.
Born: Béigles, France, circa 1904; immigrated to New York, 1924. Education: Left school at 13.