Michael Stars
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion, Lifestyle |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Michael Cohen, Suzanne Lerner |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Apparel for women and men, dresses, leather goods, cashmere sweaters, t-shirts, activewear |
Michael Stars is a fashion and lifestyle retailer headquartered in Los Angeles, specializing in apparel for both women and men. Established in 1986 by Michael Cohen and Suzanne Lerner, the company has secured a notable position within the modern fashion industry.
History
Michael Cohen began his professional journey in South Africa by creating the import-export fashion firm Bernstein & Cohen at the age of 21. After moving to Los Angeles in 1977, he connected with Suzanne Lerner, who managed Lerner et Cie, a wholesale fashion showroom founded in 1983. Merging Cohen’s creative design approach with Lerner’s industry knowledge, they founded Michael Stars in 1986 and were married two years afterward.
The brand initially specialized in unisex, one-size-fits-all t-shirts featuring vivid colors and French-inspired designs. Michael Stars revolutionized the classic t-shirt by introducing fitted cuts with cap sleeves. The label gained recognition through appearances on television series such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and was stocked by high-end retailers including Barneys New York, Fred Segal, and Harrods.
Lifestyle brand
Over more than twenty years, Michael Stars evolved from a t-shirt manufacturer into a premium lifestyle brand, broadening its offerings to encompass dresses, leather goods, and cashmere sweaters. In July 2013, the company unveiled its inaugural comprehensive women's apparel collection consisting of 160 pieces. By September 2014, it expanded into menswear with a debut line of 34 contemporary basics.
Michael Stars’ merchandise is available through its own stores, major department stores such as Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus, and roughly one thousand specialty retailers nationwide. In May 2014, the company introduced the Curbside Boutique—a 16-foot mobile retail unit that toured locations in New York City and Southern California. The brand operates twelve physical stores, including a flagship outlet in West Hollywood, maintaining production of its t-shirt and activewear ranges within Los Angeles.
The clientele includes celebrities like Jessica Alba, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Halle Berry, with frequent coverage in publications such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle.
In January 2015, Michael Cohen stepped down from his role as President after nearly three decades at the helm; he passed away in March of that year.
Charity work
In 2005, Cohen and Lerner created the Michael Stars Foundation to support charitable initiatives including The Joyful Heart Foundation, We Advance, Children Mending Hearts, Ms. Foundation, and Women Thrive Worldwide. The company has also produced shirts benefiting organizations such as UNICEF, Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, and the American Heart Association. In 2015, Michael Stars launched the Artisan Collection in partnership with Paula Coles to aid Haitian artisans and fund education through Prodev schools.