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Marc Jacobs is a prolific fashion designer who is credited with saving New York fashion. Not only did he create the Louis Vuitton empire that we know and love today, but he also has his own eponymous brand. His collections include world-renowned Marc Jacobs fragrances, as well as womenswear, bags and accessories.
Behind the world famous brand and his showstopping creations is the man himself, Marc Jacobs. From his interesting start in the fashion industry to winning prestigious awards, he is a real character. With that in mind, we take a look at some of the facts you may not have known about Marc Jacobs.
1. Marc Jacob’s first “proper” job was at Perry Ellis when he was 25. At the time, he was the youngest person to have a big position on Seventh Avenue; the heart of New York’s fashion district. On his first day, he was mistaken for a courier boy. In 1988, he was the youngest designer to receive the CFDA’s Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent.
2. Perry Ellis eventually fired Marc Jacobs for his infamous grunge collection in the 90s. He sent the samples to Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, who subsequently burned them. In the same year, he was awarded the CFDA’s Women’s Designer of the Year Award.
3. Marc Jacobs was the creative director of Louis Vuitton for 16 years, but it took 18 months of negotiations between himself and Bernard Arnault before he accepted the job.
4. He was hired at Louis Vuitton in 1997 and designed the fashion house’s first ever clothing line in March 1998.
5. He opened his first store in SoHo in NYC in 1997. When it opened, Julia Roberts was his first customer.
6. Marc Jacobs’ hero is Ralph Lauren and has often described him as the greatest American designer. However, his favourite designer is actually Yves Saint Laurent. Despite both of these facts, he would love to work for Chanel one day.
7. In 2013, Marc held the position of creative director at Diet Coke for a year while the drinks brand celebrated its 30th anniversary. Other designers who have held this position include Karl Lagerfeld and Jean Paul Gaultier.
8. In 2011, Marc Jacobs was spoofed on South Park. He appeared as a doll called Muscle Man Marc, and was the first designer to be included in the show. Thanks to this, Marc designed a South Park-inspired doll of himself for his fans and sold it for $125.
9. When he was a teenager, he used to party at Studio 54. Not only this, but he used to take his books with him and head from the nightclub to school in themorning.
10. Marc Jacobs held a comeback fashion show in 1994 under his own brand, in which Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista walked for free to support him.