John Varvatos
Encyclopedia
John Varvatos is an American contemporary high fashion menswear design
er.
island of Cefalonia. John Varvatos was born in Detroit and grew up in Allen Park, a Downriver
community situated south of the city of Detroit. He attended Allen Park High School. Varvatos joined Polo Ralph Lauren in 1983. He then moved to Calvin Klein in 1990 where he was appointed head of menswear design and oversaw the launch of the men’s collection and the cK brand. In 1995, he returned to Ralph Lauren as Head of Menswear Design for all Polo Ralph Lauren brands and created the successful Polo Jeans Company.
In September 2000, within months of showing his first collection, John Varvatos opened a freestanding boutique in Soho. The collection is currently distributed in all freestanding John Varvatos boutiques including the 315 Bowery boutique in the space that formerly housed the seminal underground music club CBGB
. In addition, the collection is available in select luxury retail stores and better specialty boutiques.
In 2001, John Varvatos was licensed to create a line of high-end Converse All-Star shoes for the Fall/Winter Season that year. The designs were so well received that they have continued to acquire his talents to this day.
John Varvatos credits his early obsession with rock ‘n roll as the catalyst for his interest in fashion. A unifying theme in his design, it is deeply ingrained in all his efforts and evident in every expression of the brand. The memorable ad campaigns for the main collection—shot by Grammy-nominated music documentarian Danny Clinch
—have featured such legendary icons as Iggy Pop
, Alice Cooper
and Velvet Revolver
.
Music is also central to the brand’s philanthropic efforts, including the Save the Music Foundation that is dedicated to restoring instrumental music programs in schools around the country, and the annual Stuart House benefit that raises money for a treatment center for sexually abused children.
's facilities and distributed by Shiseido subsidiary Beauté Prestige International.
(CFDA) in 2000 when he was honored with the Perry Ellis
Award for Menswear, which goes to the most promising new talent in the industry. John compounded this achievement the following year by winning the 2001 CFDA's Designer of the Year award.
In 2005 Varvatos received the CFDA's 2005 Menswear Designer of the Year award at the New York Public Library
. The recipients are determined by a selection committee of top magazine editors, journalists, stylists and retailers from around the world. He competed for the top honor along with Ralph Lauren
and John Bartlett
for his third CFDA win.
In 2007 Varvatos was named GQ's Designer of the Year.
Fashion design
Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
er.
Biography
The Varvatos family are originally from the small village of Poulata on the GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
island of Cefalonia. John Varvatos was born in Detroit and grew up in Allen Park, a Downriver
Downriver
Downriver is the unofficial name for a collection of 18 suburban cities and townships in Wayne County, Michigan south of Detroit along the western shore of the Detroit River....
community situated south of the city of Detroit. He attended Allen Park High School. Varvatos joined Polo Ralph Lauren in 1983. He then moved to Calvin Klein in 1990 where he was appointed head of menswear design and oversaw the launch of the men’s collection and the cK brand. In 1995, he returned to Ralph Lauren as Head of Menswear Design for all Polo Ralph Lauren brands and created the successful Polo Jeans Company.
John Varvatos Fashion House
In late 1999, Varvatos started his eponymous fashion house, debuting his first clothing line at the end of 2000. The collection consisted of tailored high fashion wear, the brand now represents an entire lifestyle that includes belts, handbags, footwear, eyewear, limited edition watches, luxury skincare and fragrances (including one for women).In September 2000, within months of showing his first collection, John Varvatos opened a freestanding boutique in Soho. The collection is currently distributed in all freestanding John Varvatos boutiques including the 315 Bowery boutique in the space that formerly housed the seminal underground music club CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
. In addition, the collection is available in select luxury retail stores and better specialty boutiques.
In 2001, John Varvatos was licensed to create a line of high-end Converse All-Star shoes for the Fall/Winter Season that year. The designs were so well received that they have continued to acquire his talents to this day.
John Varvatos credits his early obsession with rock ‘n roll as the catalyst for his interest in fashion. A unifying theme in his design, it is deeply ingrained in all his efforts and evident in every expression of the brand. The memorable ad campaigns for the main collection—shot by Grammy-nominated music documentarian Danny Clinch
Danny Clinch
Danny Clinch is a photographer and film director who was born in Toms River, New Jersey in 1964. He graduated from Toms River High School East in 1982 and after attending Ocean County College, he attended the New England School of Photography, a two-year institution located in Boston, MA.Clinch...
—have featured such legendary icons as Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
and Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver is an American hard rock supergroup consisting of former Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum, alongside Dave Kushner formerly of punk band Wasted Youth. Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland was Velvet Revolver's lead singer from their formation until...
.
Music is also central to the brand’s philanthropic efforts, including the Save the Music Foundation that is dedicated to restoring instrumental music programs in schools around the country, and the annual Stuart House benefit that raises money for a treatment center for sexually abused children.
Fragrance and Skincare Partnership with Shiseido
In the fall of 2004 John Varvatos launched his first fragrance, a men's fragrance named John Varvatos Classic. In 2006, BPI launched Vintage by John Varvatos, which shares similar notes as the classic. In 2008 Varvatos launched his fragrance for women. In Spring 2005, he also launched John Varvatos Skin, his line of skin care products for men. His new 'green' fragrance, called Artisan debuted Spring 2009. John Varvatos Skin products, along with John Varvatos fragrances, are made at ShiseidoShiseido
is a major Japanese hair care and cosmetics producer. It is the oldest cosmetics company in the world and the fourth largest cosmetics company in the world.-History:...
's facilities and distributed by Shiseido subsidiary Beauté Prestige International.
Awards
John first received accolades from the Council of Fashion Designers of AmericaCouncil of Fashion Designers of America
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association of over 350 of America’s foremost fashion and accessory designers. As of 2009, Diane von Fürstenberg is the group's President and Steven Kolb is the Executive Director...
(CFDA) in 2000 when he was honored with the Perry Ellis
Perry Ellis
Perry Ellis was an American fashion designer who founded a sportswear house in the mid-1970s.-The rise of Perry Ellis:...
Award for Menswear, which goes to the most promising new talent in the industry. John compounded this achievement the following year by winning the 2001 CFDA's Designer of the Year award.
In 2005 Varvatos received the CFDA's 2005 Menswear Designer of the Year award at the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
. The recipients are determined by a selection committee of top magazine editors, journalists, stylists and retailers from around the world. He competed for the top honor along with Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer and business executive; best known for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing brand.-Early life:...
and John Bartlett
John Bartlett
John Bartlett may refer to:*John Bartlett *John Bartlett , publisher of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations*John H...
for his third CFDA win.
In 2007 Varvatos was named GQ's Designer of the Year.