Joseph Abboud

Last updated
Joseph Abboud
BornMay 5, 1950 (1950-05-05) (age 74)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Education University of Massachusetts-Boston
OccupationFashion designer
Labels
  • Joseph Abboud
  • Jaz
Children2
Website www.josephabboud.com

Joseph Abboud (born May 5, 1950) is an American menswear fashion designer and author.

Contents

Early life and education

Joseph Abboud was born in Boston, Massachusetts. [1] The Abbouds were a working-class Lebanese Maronite Catholic family that started out in the South End of Boston, and later moved to Roslindale. Abboud's father Joseph worked in a candy factory and his mother, Lila, was a seamstress. He had one sister, Nancy Ash; she and Lila died of breast cancer.

Abboud graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Boston in 1972, then studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. [2]

Career

While in high school, he worked first for Thom McAn dyeing women's shoes and then the Anderson-Little men's store, where he sold suits. [3] As a college student, he worked part-time at Louis Boston. Abboud stated: "Louis Boston was a huge part of my career. I really landed in a world of very glamorous style, beautiful clothes, just the world of what international fashion was about. If this had never happened, then the rest of it wouldn't have happened." Abboud became a buyer at Louis Boston at age 23. [3] Over the course of twelve years, he worked as buyer, merchandiser, and eventually coordinator of promotion and advertising.

Abboud joined Ralph Lauren in 1981, eventually becoming associate director of menswear design. He launched his own label in spring 1987. [4] In 1988, JA Apparel was created as a joint venture between Abboud and GFT (Gruppo Finanziario Tessile) US. [1]

In 1991 Abboud worked with fashion director Peter Speliopoulos. Abboud was the first designer to win the CFDA award as Best Menswear Designer two years in a row. Many of Abboud's famous friends are also his customers, including American trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis, author and former TV news anchor Tom Brokaw, and former Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra. [5]

Abboud sold his trademarks and name to JA Apparel for $65 million in 2000. [6] [7] The company was acquired by private-equity firm J.W. Childs Associates for $73 million in 2004, and Abboud left JA Apparel in 2005. [8]

Abboud launched a new line called Jaz in 2007. [7] He also created the Black Brown 1826 line for the Lord & Taylor department store in 2008. [9] The year 2008 also marked the opening of Abboud's first stores in China. [10]

In 2010, Abboud became the chief creative officer of HMX, owner of the Hart Schaffner Marx and Hickey Freeman brands. [11] HMX made an offer to buy JA Apparel for $90 million in 2011. [11] In December 2012, he became Chief Creative Director of Men's Wearhouse. [12] While employing Abboud as its creative director, Men's Wearhouse Inc. (now Tailored Brands Inc.) reacquired the Abboud and JOE by Joseph Abboud trademark in 2013. [13]

After getting back the legal right to his brand in 2013, Abboud set up e-commerce, opened a Madison Avenue flagship store and produced full-scale fashion shows. [14]

In March 2020, WHP Global acquired the trademarks to the Joseph Abboud brand from Tailored Brands. In turn, Tailored Brands entered into a licensing agreement with WHP Global for the continuing rights to sell and rent Joseph Abboud apparel and selected accessories in the U.S. and Canada. [15]

Published works

Abboud wrote Threads: My Life Behind the Seams in the High-Stakes World of Fashion [16] in which he thoroughly describes the fashion industry from designing and selling clothes to naming colors. He also writes about some of the negative experiences that he has endured such as racial profiling after the September 11 attacks, a court battle over legal rights to his name, and a failed flagship store that is now occupied by Donna Karan.

Personal life

Abboud married Lynn Weinstein on June 6, 1976. [17] They have two daughters and reside in Bedford, New York. [18] He frequently appeared on Don Imus's radio show and was a regular caller to the New York City radio station, WFAN, to discuss his beloved Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees' rival. [19] In 2002, he was the first fashion designer to throw out the opening pitch at Boston's Fenway Park for a Red Sox game. [20]

Abboud's mother and sister both succumbed to breast cancer. As a result, Abboud has become a breast cancer activist who designed a one-of-a-kind GMC Sierra vehicle to fundraise for a Concept:Cure charity event and has participated in many other charity events for breast cancer research. GM offered a Joseph Abboud Limited Edition Buick Regal GS and LS from 2001 to 2004, and a Joseph Abboud Limited Edition Buick Rendezvous for 2004 and 2005.[ citation needed ] Abboud was honored as one of five "Men for the Cure" by GQ magazine and General Motors' Concept:Cure during a breast cancer fund-raiser. Concept:Cure raised $2.6 million for breast cancer organizations. [21] Abboud says he has a personal interest in curing breast cancer, because his mother and sister both died from the disease. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna Karan</span> American fashion designer

Donna Karan, also known as DK, is an American fashion designer and the creator of the Donna Karan New York and DKNY clothing labels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Lauren</span> American fashion designer and executive (born 1939)

Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer, philanthropist, and billionaire businessman, best known for founding the brand Ralph Lauren, a global multibillion-dollar enterprise. He has become well known for his collection of rare automobiles, some of which have been displayed in museum exhibits. He stepped down as CEO of the company in September 2015 but remains executive chairman and chief creative officer. As of April 2024, his net worth was estimated at US$8.8 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tailored Brands</span> American mens apparel company

Tailored Brands, Inc. is an American retail holding company for various men's apparel stores, including the Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank brands. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas, with additional corporate offices in Dublin, California and New York, New York.

Anne Klein was an American fashion designer, businesswoman, as well as a founder and the namesake of Anne Klein & Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grafton-Fraser</span>

Grafton Apparel Ltd. is a Canadian seller of men's apparel. Grafton Apparel Ltd. operates through its retail chains, Tip Top Tailors, George Richards Big and Tall, Mr. Big & Tall, and Kingsport Clothiers, which are located coast to coast in Canada. The company's leading competitor is Men's Wearhouse's Moores.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA), founded in 1962 by publicist Eleanor Lambert, and headquartered in Manhattan, is a not-for-profit trade association comprising a membership of over 450 American fashion and accessory designers. The organization promotes American designers' participation in the global economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Fashion Week</span> Fashion event in New York

New York Fashion Week (NYFW), held in February and September of each year, is a semi-annual series of events in Manhattan typically spanning seven to nine days when international fashion collections are shown to buyers, the press, and the general public. It is one of four major fashion weeks in the world, collectively known as the "Big Four," along with those in Paris, London, and Milan. The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) created the modern notion of a centralized "New York Fashion Week" in 1993, although cities like London were already using their city's name in conjunction with the words fashion week in the 1980s. NYFW is based on a much older series of events called "Press Week," founded in 1943. On a global scale, most business and sales-oriented shows and some couture shows take place in New York City.

Tim Hamilton is an American fashion designer known for minimalist sportswear. He launched his own menswear label in 2006. He is a three time CFDA nominee, and the winner of the 2009 CFDA/Swarovski Award for Menswear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thom Browne</span> American fashion designer

Thom Browne is an American fashion designer. He is the founder and head of design for Thom Browne, a luxury fashion brand based in New York City. Browne debuted his womenswear collection in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hart Schaffner Marx</span> American menswear manufacturer

Hart Schaffner Marx is an American manufacturer of ready-to-wear menswear owned by New York City–based Authentic Brands Group. With origins dating to a family business in 1872 Chicago and incorporated in 1911 as "Hart Schaffner & Marx", the company is now located in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Robert Geller is a German-born American fashion designer.

Sal Cesarani is an American fashion designer particularly known for his tailored menswear, which has made him a triple-Coty Award winner.

Billy Reid is an American fashion designer based in Florence, Alabama. His line includes menswear, womenswear, accessories and eyewear. His clothing, self-described as "lived-in luxury" and "broken-in luxury", is known for its unusual accents and Southern influence. Reid summarizes his brand's concept as "American luxury built to last". Billy Reid, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, and Michael Kors are the only fashion designers who have won 3 or more CFDA Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Spurr</span> British fashion designer

Simon James Spurr is a British fashion designer based in New York City. He is the creative director and designer of shoe label March NYC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Lauren Corporation</span> American fashion company

Ralph Lauren Corporation, the legal name of the Ralph Lauren brand, is an American publicly traded luxury fashion company that was founded in 1967 by American fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Headquartered in New York City, the company produces luxury products. Ralph Lauren is known for marketing and distributing products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories, and fragrances. Known mostly for its flagship brand Polo Ralph Lauren, the company's brands include mid-range, sub-premium, and premium labels up to its highest priced luxury Ralph Lauren Purple Label apparel.

John Varvatos is an international American luxury men's lifestyle brand founded by John Varvatos, that designs, manufactures, and retails high-end fashion, using rock aesthetics as the foundation of the brand's designs. The fashion collection is distributed in 10 freestanding John Varvatos boutiques across the US, as well as in high-end department stores throughout the world. The John Varvatos Headquarters are located in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Fezza</span> American fashion designer

Andrew Fezza is an Italian American menswear designer, sometimes described as the "Giorgio Armani of America".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Snyder (fashion designer)</span> American fashion designer

Todd Snyder is an American fashion designer based in New York City. He founded his eponymous fashion label in 2011, and has been called "the most influential menswear designer of his generation" by GQ. The brand was acquired by American Eagle Outfitters in 2015, and reports over $100 million in annual sales revenue. Todd Snyder is also the Creative Director of American heritage brand Woolrich's Black Label Collection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Bevans</span> American fashion designer and creative director

Christopher Bevans is an American fashion designer and creative director. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City and went on to work in the fashion industry like his grandmother. Bevans has won awards from organizations such as Woolmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Amiri</span> Iranian-American fashion designer (born 1976)

Mike Amiri is an American fashion designer. He is the founder and creative director of the California-based luxury fashion house, AMIRI.

References

  1. 1 2 "ABBOUD, Joseph". FashionEncyclopedia.com.
  2. ↑ "Biography of Joseph Abboud". University of Bridgeport. Archived from the original on May 10, 2007.
  3. 1 2 Women's wear Daily , Joseph Abboud at 30: A Look Back at the Highlights and Lowlights, Jean E. Palmieri, January 30, 2017
  4. ↑ Buttolph, Angela; et al. (1998). The Fashion Book. Phaidon. ISBN   0-7148-3808-X.
  5. ↑ Stewart, Rhonda (November 25, 2004). "Abboud had early designs on his career". Boston Globe .
  6. ↑ Rozhon, Tracie (December 22, 2002). "A Fashion Designer at Odds With His Label". New York Times .
  7. 1 2 Covert, James (February 12, 2010). "Sour note at Abboud's Jaz". New York Post .
  8. ↑ Smith, Ray A. (April 15, 2009). "Men's Fashion Line Trades Down: JOE Joseph Abboud Will Get More Casual as It Moves to Penney From Macy's". Wall Street Journal .
  9. ↑ "Lord and Taylor launches Joseph Abboud line". just-style.com. August 22, 2008. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  10. ↑ First Joseph Abboud Stores in China Set to Open in Fall 2008. China Weekly News. 2008.
  11. 1 2 Covert, James (June 30, 2011). "All Abboud him: Label, designer may reattach soon". New York Post .
  12. ↑ "Management Team". Men's Wearhouse Investor Relations. The Men's Wearhouse, Inc. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  13. ↑ Isaac Feldberg, Designer Abboud on his namesake brand and being a Bostonian, Boston Globe , MARCH 17, 2016
  14. ↑ New York Times , Joseph Abboud on ‘Trying to Get Boys to Dress Like Men’, GUY TREBAY, January 30, 2017
  15. ↑ MacMedan, Julie (March 5, 2020)."Tailored Brands Closes the Sale of the Joseph Abboud Trademarks to WHP Global for $115 Million" .Business Wire
  16. ↑ Abboud, Joseph; Stern, Ellen (2004). Threads: My Life Behind the Seams in the High-Stakes World of Fashion . HarperCollins. ISBN   0-06-053534-2.
  17. ↑ "Joseph Abboud - Fashion Designer Encyclopedia". Encyclopedia of Fashion. Advameg, Inc. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  18. ↑ Yarnell, Laurie (15 December 2013). "Behind the Seams with Joseph Abboud". Westchester. www.westchestermagazine.com. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  19. ↑ Spinelli, Rosa (13 March 2005). "Joseph Abboud's 12 Favorite Things". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  20. ↑ Yarnell, Laurie (15 December 2013). "Behind the Seams with Joseph Abboud". Westchester. www.westchestermagazine.com. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  21. ↑ "Dr. Dennis Slamon of UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center to be Honored for his Work to Battle Breast Cancer". Science Blog. September 8, 1999. Other 1999 'Men for the Cure' recipients include ... Joseph Abboud
  22. ↑ "Fashion Designer Joseph Abboud Creates Rugged and Romantic GMC Sierra Concept: Cure Truck". autoworld.com. 2001. Archived from the original on 2006-06-19.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.