Bill Blass Group
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 | This article contains promotional content. (December 2008) |
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| Founded | 1970 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | New York, NY |
Key people | Bill Blass - Founder, Chris Benz, Stuart Goldblatt |
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.
History
Designer Bill Blass bought Maurice Rentner Ltd., which he had joined in 1959, and renamed it Bill Blass Limited.[1] 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 Awards 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.
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.
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
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."[2] 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.[3] 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.”[3] Bill Blass will be re-introduced in 2016.
References
- ^ "Bill Bass Bio". FMD. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ Nemy, Enid (13 Jun 2002), "Bill Blass, Whose Clothes Gave Casual an Elegant Air, Dies at 79", The New York Times, pp. A1
- ^ a b http://billblass.com/Chris%20Benz_Creative%20Director_Announcement.pdf