Leon Max
Encyclopedia
Leon Max is a Russia
n-born American
fashion designer and retailer.
, Soviet Union
(now Saint Petersburg
, Russia
). The son of a playwright
, he attended an English school and read the novels of F. Scott Fitzgerald
. On leaving school he became an apprentice in costume and set design with the Kirov Ballet aged 16, by 18 realised that the only way he could improve his lot was to flee Soviet Russia.
Changing his name to Leon Max by taking his fathers first name as his surname, Max enrolled at the New York Fashion Institute of Technology
. He worked for New York fashion house Tahari, and then Los Angeles
-based Bis, a women’s sportswear firm.
An upmarket fashion chain, Max Studio sells through department stores. It also has 46 of its own retail stores in the U.S and another 50 in the Far East.
In the boom years of the mid-1980s, Max commissioned avant-garde architecture firm Morphosis — then known for sharp edged constructionist compositions — to design a showroom in LA. The eventual stores employed an evolved version of this aesthetic developed by LA architecture firm Design Office.
In November 2011 Katia Elizarova
was announced as Max Studio's new face and ambassador, replacing past faces of the brand Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
and Lily Cole
.
The couple are regarded as architectural connoisseurs, and have previously lived in a Greene and Greene
house, as well as one designed by modernist American architect Richard Neutra
. They are currently awaiting the planning permission on a 11500 sq ft (1,068.4 m²) futuristic cliff side home at Malibu.
In 2005, the couple bought Easton Neston
in Northamptonshire
, England
from Lord Hesketh for £15 million. They converted the 10000 sq ft (929 m²) of the fire damaged Wren wing of the house (mistakeny attributed to Christopher Wren
), plus the out buildings which were the home of defunct Formula One
team Hesketh Racing into their European business base. The remaining main house become their English country home for six months of the year, where they had been welcomed by a gift from Lord Hesketh — a bottle of vodka
.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fashion designer and retailer.
Early life
Leon was born Leonid Maxovich Rodovinski born in 1954 in LeningradLeningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
, Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
(now Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
). The son of a playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, he attended an English school and read the novels of F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was an American author of novels and short stories, whose works are the paradigm writings of the Jazz Age, a term he coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Fitzgerald is considered a member of the "Lost...
. On leaving school he became an apprentice in costume and set design with the Kirov Ballet aged 16, by 18 realised that the only way he could improve his lot was to flee Soviet Russia.
Changing his name to Leon Max by taking his fathers first name as his surname, Max enrolled at the New York Fashion Institute of Technology
Fashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, generally known as FIT, is a State University of New York college of art, business, design, and technology connected to the fashion industry, with an urban campus located on West 27th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of...
. He worked for New York fashion house Tahari, and then Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based Bis, a women’s sportswear firm.
Max Studio
Max started Max Studio in 1979, and has over 7,000 points of sale.An upmarket fashion chain, Max Studio sells through department stores. It also has 46 of its own retail stores in the U.S and another 50 in the Far East.
In the boom years of the mid-1980s, Max commissioned avant-garde architecture firm Morphosis — then known for sharp edged constructionist compositions — to design a showroom in LA. The eventual stores employed an evolved version of this aesthetic developed by LA architecture firm Design Office.
In November 2011 Katia Elizarova
Katia Elizarova
Katia Elizarova is a Russian model.-Background:...
was announced as Max Studio's new face and ambassador, replacing past faces of the brand Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Rosie Alice Huntington-Whiteley is an English model and actress, best known for her work for lingerie retailer Victoria's Secret and Burberry, and also for her role as Carly Spencer in the 2011 film Transformers: Dark of the Moon, the third installment in the Transformers film series.-Early life...
and Lily Cole
Lily Cole
Lily Luahana Cole is an English model and actress. Cole's modelling career was launched by a chance encounter with Benjamin Hart in Soho, London when she was 14....
.
Personal life
Max is married to American model Ame Austin (born 1976).The couple are regarded as architectural connoisseurs, and have previously lived in a Greene and Greene
Greene and Greene
Greene and Greene was an architectural firm established by brothers Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene , influential early 20th Century American architects...
house, as well as one designed by modernist American architect Richard Neutra
Richard Neutra
Richard Joseph Neutra is considered one of modernism's most important architects.- Biography :Neutra was born in Leopoldstadt, the 2nd district of Vienna, Austria Hungary, on April 8, 1892. He was born into both-Jewish wealthy family...
. They are currently awaiting the planning permission on a 11500 sq ft (1,068.4 m²) futuristic cliff side home at Malibu.
In 2005, the couple bought Easton Neston
Easton Neston
Easton Neston is a country house near Towcester, Northamptonshire, England, and is part of the Easton Neston Parish. It was designed in the Baroque style by the architect Nicholas Hawksmoor. Easton Neston is thought to be the only mansion which was solely the work of Hawksmoor...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
from Lord Hesketh for £15 million. They converted the 10000 sq ft (929 m²) of the fire damaged Wren wing of the house (mistakeny attributed to Christopher Wren
Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren FRS is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history.He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710...
), plus the out buildings which were the home of defunct Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
team Hesketh Racing into their European business base. The remaining main house become their English country home for six months of the year, where they had been welcomed by a gift from Lord Hesketh — a bottle of vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
.