Liz Claiborne

Elizabeth Claiborne Ortinberg, also known as Liz Claiborne, was born in March of 1929 in Belgium. Claiborne’s father did not view her formal education to be of much value, and her father sent her to study art in Europe several years before she was to graduate high school. Although her parents expected her to graduate from art school and become an artist, this was far more interested in becoming a fashion designer.
At the age of 21 lists in artist sketch into a contest sponsored by Harper’s Bazaar magazine. Her schedule ladies Co. won her first prize in the contest as well as the opportunity to secure a position of work on New York city’s 7th Ave. Between the years of 1950 and 1955 list carried several positions in design tailored clothing high fashion clothing and sportswear. In 1955, she began her career as a dress designer for Dan Keller company. From there, she moved on to become principal designer for a prominent division of Jonathan Logan’s dress company known as Youth Guild.
During this time Liz Claiborne began to see and need within the marketplace of professional women. Professional females were limited as to be comfortable, yet professional attire that could be purchased for the working world. As a result, Claiborne began work on a line of clothing suited to the professional female. The line of clothing included, tailored business suits bowties blouses and a host of other feminine yet functional professional products for women.
And then in 1976 Liz Claiborne Inc. was founded. This started her own company with $50,000 of her own savings. And from humble beginnings, the Liz Claiborne Inc. brand sold over $$2 million worth of product in its first year. The Claiborne brand was moderately priced and gained instant popularity for its range of comfortable yet professional skirts short jackets sweaters and pants for women.
After successful first year, Claiborne began work on the design of clothing with clean silhouettes, comfortable fits, and a wide variety of color selections. She maintained her concentration on fashionably appropriate apparel for the working woman. Staying true to her roots proved successful for Claiborne as her company’s value increased from 2.6 million in the first year $217 million in 1981. As the popularity of Liz Claiborne Inc. increased the company decided to go public in 1981.
The popularity of the Claiborne line can do to increase throughout the generation of the baby boomer. The Liz Claiborne line offered women more options for dressing for work, and also provided a certain amount of confidence in dressing to fit one’s personality. Liz Claiborne’s first retail store was opened in 1988. From that until the year 1992, Liz Claiborne opened a total of 45 retail stores.
Today the Liz Claiborne brand still remains a staple of the fashion industry. Her designs are commonly seen in prominent retail stores across the United States, as well as her own line of retail stores, and several other prominent boutiques. Sadly, Liz Claiborne passed away in year 2007. And although her legacy lives on, this female fashion icon and designer will be sorely missed.