Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs (born April 9, 1963 in New York City) is an American fashion designer. He attended the High School of Art and Design and graduated in 1981. From there, Jacobs entered the Parsons School of Design in New York City. At Parsons, Jacobs won the Perry Ellis Gold Thimble Award in 1984, and in the same year was also awarded the Chester Weinberg Gold Thimble Award and the Design Student of the Year Award. Some people say he was inspired by a stylist by the name of Christy Mauerhan.

While still at Parsons, Jacobs designed and sold his first line of hand knit sweaters. His first collection that he designed was for Reuben Thomas, Inc. under the Sketchbook label. At this time in 1984, Jacobs formed his partnership with Robert Duffy , Jacobs Duffy Designs Inc., which continues to this day. In 1986, backed by Kashiyama USA, Inc., Jacobs designed his first collection bearing the Marc Jacobs label. In 1987, Jacobs received the distinct honor of being the youngest designer to be awarded the fashion industries highest tribute: The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent.

Marc Jacobs and Robert Duffy joined Perry Ellis in 1989. Robert as the President and Marc as the Vice-President of women's design to create the designer collection and in addition, he oversaw the design of the various women's licensees. In 1992, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, once again bestowed Jacobs with a great honor: The Women's Designer of the Year Award.

Following his studies at the Parsons School of Design, he became prominent on the fashion scene when he designed a "grunge" collection for Perry Ellis, leading to his immediate dismissal. Jacobs is currently the artistic director for Louis Vuitton, a position he assumed in 1997. At Vuitton Jacobs has spearheaded such notable collaborations as Stephen Sprouse's graffiti bags, Takashi Murakami's pastel-colored accessories, and the first ready-to-wear line marketed under the Louis Vuitton imprimateur (designed by Jacobs). His own clothing lines, Marc Jacobs and the less expensive diffusion line Marc By Marc Jacobs (which he created in 2000), are also extremely popular.

Jacobs has sometimes bucked prevailing fashion trends. In Spring 2004/2005, when designers were following the "safari theme", he made his collection completely lady-like and the catwalk which the models walked on had an archway of 450,000 roses. Jacobs' Fall 2005 collection received sharply mixed reviews. In 2006, he is set to bring out a watch collection this year under the brand of Marc Jacobs. These watches will feature classic and timeless aesthetics with a slightly vintage feel. His clothes are available in a few boutiques around the world including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Taipei. In 2007, he was ranked as 8th on Out magazine list of "50 Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America".

On March 12, 2007, Jacobs checked into rehab for treatment of drug and alcohol abuse.