Jeffrey Banks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeffrey Banks
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| Born | 3 November 1955 |
| Nationality | American |
Jeffrey Banks, born on November 3, 1955, is a famous American fashion designer and author. He is known for his important contributions to the fashion world.
Early Life and Fashion Start
Jeffrey Banks began his career in fashion by working with two very well-known designers. From 1971 to 1973, he was a design assistant for Ralph Lauren. After that, from 1973 to 1976, he worked with Calvin Klein.
Banks has shared an interesting story about how Calvin Klein's famous logo garments started. He says he took the Calvin Klein logo from a press folder. Then, he had it printed onto the sleeve of a brown T-shirt as a gift for Klein. Klein's business partner, Barry K. Schwartz, saw the shirt. He thought it was part of the new clothing line. Because of this, similar shirts became the uniform for staff at Klein's next fashion show. Buyers loved them and wanted to buy them, which helped start the trend of logo clothing.
Launching His Own Brand
After working with Calvin Klein, Jeffrey Banks decided to create his own fashion label. He launched his brand in New York City in 1977. His company quickly grew.
By 1996, his fashion lines, Jeffrey Banks Ltd. and Jeffrey Banks International, were very popular. They sold suits, shirts, eyewear (glasses), and other accessories all around the world. His sales reached about $20 million, showing how successful his designs were.
Jeffrey Banks as an Author
Besides being a fashion designer, Jeffrey Banks is also a talented author. He has written several books about fashion with Doria de La Chapelle. These books were published by Rizzoli.
In 2007, they wrote a book about tartan, which is a special pattern often seen on Scottish kilts. In 2011, they released a book about the preppy style, which is a classic American fashion look. Their 2015 book focused on the milliner (hat designer) Patricia Underwood. Banks also co-authored Perry Ellis: An American Original in 2013. This book was a detailed look at the life and work of designer Perry Ellis, who was a friend and colleague of Banks.
