Joseph Abboud
Joseph Abboud | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 5, 1950 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Fashion designer, author |
| Known for | Menswear design |
Joseph Abboud (born May 5, 1950) is a prominent American designer specializing in menswear and an accomplished author.
Early life and education
Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, Abboud was raised in a working-class Lebanese Maronite Catholic household. His father was employed at a candy manufacturing plant, while his mother practiced as a seamstress. He earned his degree from the University of Massachusetts-Boston in 1972 and furthered his studies at the Sorbonne in Paris.
Career
During his high school years, Abboud gained experience working at Thom McAn, where he dyed women's footwear, and at Anderson-Little, a men's suit retailer. While attending college, he held a part-time position at Louis Boston and progressed to become a buyer by the age of 23. Over the course of twelve years, he climbed through various roles including buyer, merchandiser, and promotions coordinator.
In 1981, Abboud joined Ralph Lauren as associate director of menswear design. He introduced his own fashion label in spring 1987. The following year, JA Apparel was established as a partnership between Abboud and GFT US. From 1991 onward, he worked closely with fashion director Peter Speliopoulos. Abboud was notably the first designer to receive the CFDA Best Menswear Designer award two years running. His clientele featured distinguished personalities such as Wynton Marsalis, Tom Brokaw, and Nomar Garciaparra.
In 2000, Abboud sold his trademarks and brand name to JA Apparel for $65 million. Subsequently, in 2004, the company was purchased by private equity firm J.W. Childs Associates for $73 million; Abboud departed from JA Apparel in 2005.
He launched the Jaz collection in 2007 and introduced Black Brown 1826 for Lord & Taylor in 2008—the same year he inaugurated his initial stores in China. By 2010, Abboud assumed the role of chief creative officer at HMX, which owns Hart Schaffner Marx and Hickey Freeman brands. In 2011, HMX made a $90 million bid to acquire JA Apparel. In December 2012, Abboud was appointed Chief Creative Director at Men's Wearhouse (now Tailored Brands), which reacquired the Joseph Abboud trademarks in 2013.
Upon regaining control of his brand rights, Abboud expanded into online retailing, opened a flagship store on Madison Avenue, and resumed hosting major fashion shows.
In March 2020, WHP Global purchased the Joseph Abboud trademarks from Tailored Brands for $115 million. Tailored Brands retained licensing rights to market and rent Joseph Abboud apparel and selected accessories within the United States and Canada.
Published works
Abboud authored Threads: My Life Behind the Seams in the High-Stakes World of Fashion, which explores the intricacies of design, marketing strategies, and color naming within the fashion industry. The book also addresses challenges such as racial profiling following September 11, legal battles over name rights, and an unsuccessful flagship store that was later taken over by Donna Karan.
Personal life
On June 6, 1976, Abboud married Lynn Weinstein. The couple has two daughters and resides in Bedford, New York. He was a frequent guest on Don Imus's radio program and regularly called into WFAN to share his enthusiasm for the Boston Red Sox; notably, he became the first fashion designer to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park in 2002.
After losing his mother and sister to breast cancer, Abboud became an advocate for research and fundraising efforts related to the disease. He designed a custom GMC Sierra for the Concept:Cure charity event and participated in various breast cancer campaigns. General Motors produced Joseph Abboud Limited Edition Buick Regal GS and LS models from 2001 to 2004 as well as Buick Rendezvous editions between 2004 and 2005. GQ magazine and GM’s Concept:Cure recognized Abboud as one of five "Men for the Cure," an initiative that raised $2.6 million to support breast cancer organizations.
See also
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
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- 1950 births
- 20th-century American designers
- American people of Lebanese descent
- Fordham University faculty
- Living people
- Artists from Boston
- University of Massachusetts Boston alumni
- People from Bedford, New York
- People from South End, Boston
- American Maronites
- People from Roslindale
- American fashion designers