Marc Jacobs
Born 1963 · Age 63
American fashion designer; founder of Marc Jacobs label; longtime creative director of Louis Vuitton (1997–2013/2014); launched diffusion line Marc by Marc Jacobs (2001) and later Heaven (2020).
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in New York City
Marc Jacobs was born in New York City into a secular Jewish family.
Father died
Jacobs' father, an agent at the William Morris Agency, died when Marc was six.
First retail job — stockboy at Charivari
At age 15 Jacobs worked as a stockboy at Charivari, an avant-garde boutique in NYC — an early exposure to fashion and meeting Perry Ellis.
Graduated High School of Art and Design; enrolled at Parsons
After graduating High School of Art and Design, Jacobs enrolled at Parsons School of Design to study womenswear.
Parsons senior collection & student awards
Senior thesis of oversized hand-knit sweaters (knit by his grandmother) earned him Chester Weinberg & Perry Ellis Gold Thimble awards and Design Student of the Year.
Hired by Reuben Thomas, Inc. and formed Jacobs Duffy Designs
Hired to design the Sketchbook label for Reuben Thomas; with Robert Duffy he formed Jacobs Duffy Designs (mid-1980s), beginning their long business partnership.
Launched first Marc Jacobs collection (backed by Onward Kashiyama)
Jacobs designed his first collection bearing the Marc Jacobs label, backed by Onward Kashiyama USA, Inc.
CFDA Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent
Jacobs became the youngest recipient of the Council of Fashion Designers of America's Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent.
Joined Perry Ellis womenswear leadership
Jacobs and Robert Duffy joined Perry Ellis after the founder's death; Jacobs as creative director/vice president and Duffy as president, overseeing womenswear and licenses.
Debuted 'grunge' collection for Perry Ellis; CFDA Womenswear Designer Award
Jacobs introduced a landmark 'grunge' collection (critically acclaimed) and was awarded the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year (year reported as 1992 in several sources).
Dismissal from Perry Ellis; launched Marc Jacobs International Company, L.P.
Commercial failure of the grunge line led to Jacobs' dismissal from Perry Ellis; in fall 1993 Jacobs Duffy Designs launched Marc Jacobs International Company, L.P.
Produced first full menswear collection
Marc Jacobs produced his first complete menswear collection, expanding the signature label's offerings.
Appointed Louis Vuitton creative director; majority sale to LVMH
Jacobs was appointed creative director of Louis Vuitton and signed on while selling a controlling interest of his business to LVMH (reports indicate roughly 96% of shareholding sold in 1997).
Launched Marc by Marc Jacobs (secondary line)
Introduced a lower-priced diffusion line, Marc by Marc Jacobs (spring 2001), to expand reach and capture the contemporary market.
Stephen Sprouse / Speedy Graffiti collaboration for Louis Vuitton
Collaborated with artist Stephen Sprouse on the iconic LV Speedy graffiti bag, a best-selling artist collaboration for Louis Vuitton.
Takashi Murakami collaboration begins (multicolour Monogram)
Major artistic collaboration with Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton; the partnership and related collections generated very large incremental sales (Business of Fashion cites the Murakami collaboration generating roughly $300M in sales over time).
Little Marc Jacobs children's line & Japan license milestone
Launched children's wear line Little Marc Jacobs. In Japan the Marc by Marc Jacobs ready-to-wear license (Look) had a retail value around €50 million in 2005.
Launched body-splash fragrances (distributed by Coty)
Started a new line of ten-ounce body-splash fragrances distributed by Coty, expanding the brand into fragrance.
Documentary 'Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton' released
Filmmaker Loïc Prigent released a documentary about Jacobs and his work at Louis Vuitton.
Launched Daisy perfume
Released the popular 'Daisy' fragrance collection, a successful consumer product line for the Marc Jacobs brand.
Scarf plagiarism allegation and settlement
Accused of plagiarizing a 1950s scarf design by Swedish designer Gösta Olofsson; settled by offering monetary compensation to Olofsson's son.
Launched gay-rights T-shirt; co-hosted MET Costume Institute gala
Released a shirt demanding legalization of gay marriage; co-hosted a 'model and muse' themed Met Gala with Kate Moss in May 2009.
Sued Ed Hardy for design infringement
Filed a lawsuit accusing Ed Hardy of infringing on the designs of one of his embroidered handbags.
CFDA Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award
Received the CFDA Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement prize, recognizing his career contributions to fashion.
Patron of 'Designer for Tomorrow' award
Served as patron for the 'Designer for Tomorrow by Peek & Cloppenburg' award during Mercedes-Benz Berlin Fashion Week, mentoring finalists.
Feature film acting debut in 'Disconnect'
Made his film acting debut in the drama 'Disconnect' (2012), playing a character named Harvey.
Global retail footprint: 285 stores (summer 2013)
As of summer 2013, there were 285 Marc by Marc Jacobs and Marc Jacobs Collection retail locations worldwide.
Named Diet Coke creative director
Appointed creative director for Diet Coke, spending a year restyling the brand for its 30th anniversary initiatives.
Faux-fur controversy revealed
Reports revealed that 'faux fur' used in some Marc Jacobs garments was actually the fur of raccoon dogs from China; public controversy ensued.
Announced departure from Louis Vuitton
After the Spring/Summer 2014 show it was revealed Marc Jacobs would leave Louis Vuitton to focus on his own label.
Opened flagship store in Shanghai
Marc Jacobs opened a new flagship store in Shanghai (December 2013) as part of international expansion.
Miley Cyrus featured in Spring/Summer 2014 campaign
Announced that Miley Cyrus would appear in Marc Jacobs' Spring/Summer 2014 campaign photographed by David Sims.
Jessica Lange named face of Marc Jacobs Beauty
Jessica Lange was announced as the new face of Marc Jacobs Beauty and starred in a short campaign film directed by Jacobs (streamed May 5, 2014).
Closure of Marc by Marc Jacobs announced
Jacobs announced the closure of the Marc by Marc Jacobs diffusion label to focus on the primary brand; the line was discontinued after the Fall/Winter 2015 collection.
CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year (2016)
Received the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award (2016).
John Targon joins Marc Jacobs as creative director (contemporary)
LVMH confirmed that Baja East co-founder John Targon would join Marc Jacobs as creative director of contemporary (Feb 2018) to push lower-priced product.
Proposed to Charly Defrancesco via flash mob at Chipotle
Jacobs proposed to longtime partner Charly Defrancesco in a flash mob inside a Chipotle restaurant; the performance danced to Prince's 'Kiss'.
Purchased Max Hoffman House in Rye, NY
Jacobs and his husband purchased a Frank Lloyd Wright–designed home (Max Hoffman House) in Rye, New York, for $9.17 million.
Married Charly Defrancesco
Marc Jacobs and Charly Defrancesco were married in New York City.
Received MTV's first Fashion Trailblazer Award
Jacobs was presented with MTV's inaugural 'Fashion Trailblazer Award' at the Video Music Awards, in partnership with the CFDA.
Launched Heaven by Marc Jacobs
Released 'Heaven', a polysexual, youth-focused sub-label blurring gender boundaries; campaign featured young rising artists including beabadoobee and Iris Law.
Reported net worth ~$200 million
Multiple sources (e.g., Money Inc., reported Feb 23, 2022) cited Marc Jacobs' estimated net worth at around $200 million.
Viral editorial 'Heaven' couch shoot
An editorial shoot showcasing New York nightlife and cultural figures on a long couch went viral; Jacobs served as designer for the shoot.
Named US Vogue's First Guest Editor
Marc Jacobs was named US Vogue's first guest editor for the December issue (announced Nov 10, 2024).
Key Achievement Ages
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