Paul Marciano facts for kids

Paul Marciano (born around 1952) is a French-American fashion designer and businessman. He is famous for co-founding Guess? Inc., a well-known clothing company. His black-and-white advertisements for Guess have won many awards.

Paul and his brother Maurice now run the company. They also manage its other clothing lines, Marciano and G by Guess. Paul Marciano is also a big supporter of a large Jewish temple in Los Angeles.

Paul Marciano's Early Life

Paul Marciano was born around 1952 in Debdou, Morocco. He grew up in Marseille, France with his four siblings. His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all religious leaders called rabbis. Their family lived in an apartment that was part of a synagogue complex.

From ages 8 to 15, Paul was a member of a Jewish boy scout group. When he was 15, he had a serious motorcycle accident. Doctors told him he might never walk again, and he spent seven months in a wheelchair. After a year and a half, he fully recovered. However, he could not go back to school because he had missed so much time. He then traveled to Israel to live on a kibbutz, which is a special community farm.

Building a Fashion Career

Starting with MGA Clothing

Paul Marciano worked in his family's clothing business, MGA. This company had shops in the French Riviera. In 1977, Paul and his brothers visited Southern California. They really liked the area and its style.

In 1981, there were political changes in France. The Marciano brothers decided to close MGA and move to the United States. They soon started a new clothing company that would become very famous: Guess.

Founding Guess Jeans

In 1981, the Marciano brothers officially started Guess Jeans. A few years later, in 1983, they sold half of their company to another family, the Nakash Brothers. This partnership later had some disagreements.

In 1990, the families reached an agreement. The Marciano brothers kept the Guess brand. Paul Marciano first managed advertising and public relations for Guess. Later, in 1993, he became the president and chief operating officer. By 2004, Paul and Maurice Marciano owned a large part of the company. In June 2018, Paul Marciano stepped down as the CEO of Guess.

Other Business Ventures

In 2013, Paul Marciano and his brother Maurice joined forces with other business leaders. They supported a new entertainment company in Los Angeles called Hero Ventures.

Giving Back: Philanthropy

The Marciano Art Foundation

In 2013, Paul and Maurice Marciano bought a large building in Los Angeles. It used to be a temple. They planned to turn it into a private art museum to show their collection of over 1,000 artworks. The museum, called the Maurice and Paul Marciano Art Foundation, opened in 2017.

In 2019, the museum closed its doors.

Supporting the Military

In 2014, Paul and his brother Maurice made a large donation. They gave $5.2 million to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. This group supports soldiers in Israel.

Paul Marciano's Personal Life

Paul Marciano has been married twice. His first wife was Kymberly Marciano, and they had two children, Nicolai and Ella. In 2016, he married French model Mareva Georges in Bora Bora. Mareva was once crowned Miss France. They have two children, Ryan and Gia. The family lives in Los Angeles.

See Also

• In Spanish: Paul Marciano para niños