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'''Bill Blass Group''' replaces what was formerly Bill Blass Limited, a fashion house founded by American designer [[Bill Blass (designer)|Bill Blass]]. [[Chris Benz]] is the Creative Director of the group.
'''Bill Blass Group''' replaces what was formerly Bill Blass Limited, a fashion house founded by American designer [[Bill Blass (designer)|Bill Blass]]. [[Chris Benz]] is the Creative Director of the group.


==Bill Blass Limited==
==History==
Designer Bill Blass began designing for Anna Miller in 1959, and his name began appearing on the label starting in 1960 after it merged with Maurice Rentner.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oSqL94evfOsC&pg=PA118&dq=bill+blass+limited&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1DgxVavsCMvOsQTr94CQDg&ved=0CF4Q6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=bill%20blass%20limited&f=false |page=118 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Fashioning an Artful Life: One Woman's Life History in Clothes |author=Barbara Perso Heinemann |year=2008}}</ref> He renamed the company Bill Blass Limited.<ref name="FDM Bill Bass 2013">{{cite web | url=http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/bill-blass/ | title=Bill Bass Bio | publisher=FMD | accessdate=26 July 2013}}</ref> after purchasing it in 1970,<ref name=Jackson>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lI5ERUmHf3YC&pg=PT670&dq=bill+blass+limited&hl=en&sa=X&ei=MDkxVZrGEpDisATCpYCYCw&ved=0CCUQ6AEwADgU#v=onepage&q=bill%20blass%20limited&f=false |title=The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |author=Kenneth T. Jackson, Lisa Keller, and Nancy Flood |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2010}}</ref> after making a name for himself with Rentner.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=omiFuQfkSwwC&pg=PA67&dq=bill+blass+limited&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ITkxVbfuFsnfsAS30oGgAg&ved=0CCUQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=bill%20blass%20limited&f=false |page=67 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Cleveland's Department Stores |author=Christopher Faircloth |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2009}}</ref> This made him the first American designer to print his own name on his designs.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BYAXAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA23&dq=bill+blass+limited&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1DgxVavsCMvOsQTr94CQDg&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=bill%20blass%20limited&f=false |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry |page=23 |author=Francesca Sterlacci Purvin and Joanne Arbuckle |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2007}}</ref> He also created the Blassport medium-priced fashion line in 1972.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gO9nBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA68&dq=bill+blass+limited&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1DgxVavsCMvOsQTr94CQDg&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=bill%20blass%20limited&f=false |accessdate=April 15, 2015 |title=World Clothing and Fashion: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture, and Social Influence |page=68 |author=Mary Ellen Snodgrass |publisher=Routledge |year=2015}}</ref> Bill Blass Limited rose to prominence over the 1970s, being worn by individuals such as Jacqueline Kennedy to Gloria Vanderbilt.<ref name=Milligan />
Designer Bill Blass bought Maurice Rentner Ltd., which he had joined in 1959, and renamed it Bill Blass Limited.<ref name="FDM Bill Bass 2013">{{cite web | url=http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/bill-blass/ | title=Bill Bass Bio | publisher=FMD | accessdate=26 July 2013}}</ref> Over the next 30 years, the line expanded to include swimwear, furs, luggage, perfume, and chocolate. By 1998, the company had grown to a $700-million-a-year business. During Blass’ lifetime, he received countless honors including seven [[Coty Award]]s and the Fashion Institute of Technology's Lifetime Achievement Award, in 1999. In 1999, Blass sold Bill Blass Limited for $50 million and retired to his home in New Preston, Connecticut.
The line expanded to include swimwear, furs, luggage, perfume, and chocolate, and Miles Socha wrote of the company in 1998 that the company had allowed “42 licenses in a wide variety of products, from furniture and lamps to handbags and fragrances, generating about $800 million in annual retail sales.”<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-21159525.html |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=BLASS IS BLACK -- IN JEANS |publisher=WWD |date=September 24, 1998 |author=Miles Socha}}</ref> By this time, Blass considered retirement, and his last line as head of the company came with the Spring 2000 collection at New York City Fashion Week in September 1999.<ref name=Brady>{{cite news |url=http://articles.philly.com/1999-09-18/living/25487402_1_fashion-show-comden-and-green-malachy-mccourt |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |date=September 18, 1999 |publisher=Philadelphia Inquirer |title=Bill Blass Shows Spring Line And Says It Is His Last, Really |author=Thomas J. Brady}}</ref> He sold the company for $50 million in 2000.<ref name=Purvin>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BYAXAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA23&dq=bill+blass+limited&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1DgxVavsCMvOsQTr94CQDg&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=bill%20blass%20limited&f=false |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry |page=23 |author=Francesca Sterlacci Purvin and Joanne Arbuckle |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2007}}</ref>

From 2003 to 2007, Bill Blass Limited’s head designer was Michaele Vollbracht, who had known and worked for Blass for a number of years. Vollbracht resigned as head designer in early 2007, at about the same time as the company was acquired by Nexcen Brands in February 2007. Nexcen Brands announced on February 15, 2007 that they had completed a $54.6 million cash and stock acquisition of the company.
From 2003 to 2007, Bill Blass Limited’s head designer was Michaele Vollbracht. He resigned as head designer in early 2007,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/fashion/michael-vollbrachts-fashions-are-for-women-of-a-certain-age-size-and-income/979863 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Michael Vollbracht's fashions are for women of a certain age, size and income |publisher=Tampa Bay Times |author=Lennie Bennett |date=February 28, 2009}}</ref> at about the same time as the company was acquired by Nexcen Brands in February 2007 through a $54.6 million cash and stock acquisition of the company.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y6U9nmaeM1gC&pg=PT164&lpg=PT164&dq=Nexcen+Brands+acquires+Bill+Blass+$54.6+million&source=bl&ots=KeSNt5GYiS&sig=OZ31Gu1LnTTqTU2jJMVSKxD98KM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Py0xVaipJdaSsQSq7YDoDg&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Nexcen%20Brands%20acquires%20Bill%20Blass%20%2454.6%20million&f=false |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Plunkett's Apparel & Textiles Industry Almanac 2008 |publisher=Plunkett Research |page=164 |year=2008}}</ref>

In July 2007, Nexcen Brands announced that Peter Som would be designing Bill Blass womenswear and Michael Bastian would design the menswear line.
On December 29, 2008, it was officially announced that Peacock International Holdings, LLC, purchased Bill Blass Limited, now known as Bill Blass Group, LLC.

In November 2014, [[Chris Benz]] joined Bill Blass Group as Creative Director. Benz, known for his modern design aesthetic and connection to today's customer will be instrumental in re-imagining Bill Blass.


==Aesthetic==
==Aesthetic==

Revision as of 05:16, 24 April 2015

Bill Blass Group
Founded1970
HeadquartersNew York, NY
Key people
Bill Blass - Founder and Chris Benz - Creative director

Bill Blass Group replaces what was formerly Bill Blass Limited, a fashion house founded by American designer Bill Blass. Chris Benz is the Creative Director of the group.

Bill Blass Limited

Designer Bill Blass began designing for Anna Miller in 1959, and his name began appearing on the label starting in 1960 after it merged with Maurice Rentner.[1] He renamed the company Bill Blass Limited.[2] after purchasing it in 1970,[3] after making a name for himself with Rentner.[4] This made him the first American designer to print his own name on his designs.[5] He also created the Blassport medium-priced fashion line in 1972.[6] Bill Blass Limited rose to prominence over the 1970s, being worn by individuals such as Jacqueline Kennedy to Gloria Vanderbilt.[7] The line expanded to include swimwear, furs, luggage, perfume, and chocolate, and Miles Socha wrote of the company in 1998 that the company had allowed “42 licenses in a wide variety of products, from furniture and lamps to handbags and fragrances, generating about $800 million in annual retail sales.”[8] By this time, Blass considered retirement, and his last line as head of the company came with the Spring 2000 collection at New York City Fashion Week in September 1999.[9] He sold the company for $50 million in 2000.[10] From 2003 to 2007, Bill Blass Limited’s head designer was Michaele Vollbracht. He resigned as head designer in early 2007,[11] at about the same time as the company was acquired by Nexcen Brands in February 2007 through a $54.6 million cash and stock acquisition of the company.[12]

Aesthetic

In a time when other designers were designing clothes which were known more for being a work of art, designer Bill Blass set his line apart by designing clothing which any women could wear day or night. According to Ellin Saltzman in the New York Times, "He took American sportswear to its highest level … giving it a clean, modern, impeccable style… He, probably more than any designer knew his customer and understood her."[13] Keystones of the brand identity include exuberant use of color, embellishment and the embodiment of the casual American spirit.

Bill Blass today

Bill Blass Group, LLC named merchandising executive Stuart M. Goldblatt in September, 2014 as its President and Chief Operating Officer. Goldblatt is committed to the reinvention and relaunch of the Bill Blass.[14] On October 30, 2014, Chris Benz was appointed as Creative Director to the brand. In a recent interview with Women’s Wear Daily, Benz commented: “Bill Blass is a brand that I have forever admired and have deep respect for as an original American designer,” said Chris Benz. “I am thrilled to introduce this esteemed brand to the next generation.”[14] Bill Blass will be re-introduced in 2016.


References

  1. ^ Barbara Perso Heinemann (2008). Fashioning an Artful Life: One Woman's Life History in Clothes. p. 118. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  2. ^ "Bill Bass Bio". FMD. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  3. ^ Kenneth T. Jackson, Lisa Keller, and Nancy Flood (2010). The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition. Yale University Press. Retrieved April 17, 2015.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Christopher Faircloth (2009). Cleveland's Department Stores. Arcadia Publishing. p. 67. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  5. ^ Francesca Sterlacci Purvin and Joanne Arbuckle (2007). Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry. Scarecrow Press. p. 23. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  6. ^ Mary Ellen Snodgrass (2015). World Clothing and Fashion: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture, and Social Influence. Routledge. p. 68. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Milligan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Miles Socha (September 24, 1998). "BLASS IS BLACK -- IN JEANS". WWD. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  9. ^ Thomas J. Brady (September 18, 1999). "Bill Blass Shows Spring Line And Says It Is His Last, Really". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  10. ^ Francesca Sterlacci Purvin and Joanne Arbuckle (2007). Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry. Scarecrow Press. p. 23. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  11. ^ Lennie Bennett (February 28, 2009). "Michael Vollbracht's fashions are for women of a certain age, size and income". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  12. ^ Plunkett's Apparel & Textiles Industry Almanac 2008. Plunkett Research. 2008. p. 164. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  13. ^ Nemy, Enid (13 Jun 2002), "Bill Blass, Whose Clothes Gave Casual an Elegant Air, Dies at 79", The New York Times, pp. A1
  14. ^ a b http://billblass.com/Chris%20Benz_Creative%20Director_Announcement.pdf

Bill Blass collections at style.com

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