Paul Marciano facts for kids

Paul Marciano was born on September 1, 1952. He is a fashion designer, businessman, and investor with Moroccan, American, and French backgrounds. He is best known as a co-founder of Guess? Inc., a famous clothing company. His black-and-white advertisements for Guess have won many awards. Paul and his brother Maurice now manage the company and its other clothing lines, Marciano and G by Guess.

Early Life and Challenges

Paul Marciano was born in Debdou, Morocco. He grew up in Marseille, France, with his four siblings: Georges, Armand, Maurice, and Jacqueline. His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all rabbis, who are religious leaders. Their family lived in an apartment that was part of a synagogue complex.

From ages 8 to 15, Paul and his brothers were part of the Éclaireurs israelites de France. This was a Jewish boy scout group located in the same complex. When he was 15, Paul was in a serious motorcycle accident. Doctors initially thought he might not walk again. He spent seven months in a wheelchair. After a year and a half, he fully recovered and could walk again. Because of his long absence, he could not return to school to finish his education. After this, he traveled to Israel to live in a kibbutz, which is a community where people live and work together.

Starting a Career in Fashion

Family Business: MGA

Paul Marciano started his career working in his family's clothing company called MGA. The name MGA came from the first letters of his brothers' names: Maurice, Georges, and Armand. Their company had shops in the French Riviera, a beautiful coastal area in France.

In 1977, Paul and his brothers visited Southern California in the United States. They really liked the area. In 1981, after some political changes in France, the Marciano brothers decided to close MGA. They then moved to the United States to start a new life and business.

Founding Guess? Inc.

In 1981, the Marciano brothers founded Guess Jeans. This company quickly became very famous for its denim clothing. Paul Marciano was in charge of advertising and public relations for Guess. Later, in 1993, he became the president and chief operating officer of the company. By 2004, Paul and Maurice Marciano owned a large part of the company's shares.

In June 2018, Paul Marciano stepped down as the CEO of Guess. He then became the Executive Chairman and continued to be the company's chief creative officer. This means he still helps guide the creative direction of Guess.

Other Business Ventures

In 2013, Paul Marciano and his brother Maurice teamed up with Steve Tisch and World Wrestling Entertainment. They supported a new entertainment company in Los Angeles called Hero Ventures.

Giving Back: Philanthropy

Paul and Maurice Marciano are also known for their generous donations. In 2013, their Maurice and Paul Marciano Art Foundation bought a large building in Los Angeles. They planned to turn it into a private museum to show their collection of over 1,000 art pieces. The museum, called the Marciano Art Foundation, opened in 2017.

In 2014, Paul and Maurice also donated $5.2 million to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. This organization supports soldiers and their families.

Political Involvement

Before 2016, Paul Marciano mostly supported political candidates from the Democratic party. However, since 2016, he has changed his focus. He has donated money to Republican candidates, including a donation to Donald Trump.

Personal Life

Paul Marciano has been married two times. His first wife was Kymberly Marciano, who was a model and photographer. They had two children together, a daughter named Ella (born in 1994) and a son named Nicolai (born in 1996).

In 2016, Paul married Mareva Georges in Bora Bora. Mareva was Miss Tahiti in 1990 and Miss France in 1991. They have two children, a son named Ryan (born in 2005) and a daughter named Gia (born in 2012). The family lives in Los Angeles. Mareva Georges works to protect children and women from abuse.

See also

In Spanish: Paul Marciano para niños

• List of fashion designers