Bill Blass Group facts for kids
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| Founded | 1970 |
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| Headquarters | New York, NY |
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Key people
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Bill Blass - Founder |
The Bill Blass Group is a famous fashion company. It used to be called Bill Blass Limited. An American designer named Bill Blass started it.
Contents
The Story of Bill Blass Limited
Bill Blass began designing clothes in 1959 for a company called Anna Miller. His name started appearing on the clothing labels in 1960. This happened after his company joined with Maurice Rentner's.
Bill Blass Takes Over
In 1970, Bill Blass bought the company. He renamed it Bill Blass Limited. He became the first American designer to put his own name on his designs. In 1972, he also created a fashion line called Blassport. This line offered clothes at a medium price.
Growing Popularity and Products
Bill Blass Limited became very famous during the 1970s. Well-known people like Jacqueline Kennedy and Gloria Vanderbilt wore his designs. The company grew to include many different products. These included swimwear, furs, luggage, perfume, and even chocolate.
By 1998, the company had 42 "licenses." This meant other companies could make products using the Bill Blass name. These products ranged from furniture and lamps to handbags and perfumes. These sales brought in about $800 million each year.
Retirement and New Leadership
Bill Blass decided to retire. His last collection as the head of the company was for Spring 2000. It was shown in September 1999. He sold his company for $50 million in 2000.
From 2003 to 2007, Michaele Vollbracht was the main designer for Bill Blass Limited. He left in early 2007. Around the same time, Nexcen Brands bought the company. They paid about $54.6 million for it in February 2007.
Ellin Saltzman, writing for The New York Times, said that Bill Blass made "American sportswear" very stylish. She noted that he understood his customers well. The brand was known for its bright colors, fancy decorations, and a relaxed American style.
The Bill Blass Group Today
After Nexcen Brands bought the company, it became known as Bill Blass Group, LLC. Peter Som started designing the women's clothing. Michael Bastian designed the men's clothing.
Changes in Ownership and Design
In December 2008, Peacock International Holdings, LLC, bought the Bill Blass Group. Peacock announced plans to bring back the Bill Blass "couture" line. This is a special line of very high-fashion, custom-made clothes. It had been stopped a few months before the purchase.
Jeffrey Monteiro became the new head designer. He worked in this role until 2012. After Bill Blass passed away, six different designers had been hired and then left the company. The collections planned for 2012 were canceled when Monteiro left.
New Creative Direction
In November 2014, Chris Benz was chosen as the Creative Director. This was part of a plan to give the brand a new look. Benz said he always admired Bill Blass as a truly American designer. An article from The New York Times on October 6, 2020, stated that Benz had left the company.
