Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs was born in New York City on April 9, 1963. After graduating from the High School of Art and Design in 1981 he entered Parson's School of Design. As a design student at Parson's, Jacobs was the recipient of some of the schools highest honours including Design Student of the Year. In 1984 he met Robert Duffy who is still his business partner today.

In 1986 Jacobs designed his first collection with the Marc Jacobs label. In 1987, he received the distinct honour of being the youngest designer ever to be awarded the fashion industry's highest tribute: The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent.

1989 Jacobs and Duffy joined Perry Ellis as Vice-President of Women's Design and President respectively. In 1992, the CFDA once again bestowed Jacobs with a distinct honour: the Women's Designer of the Year Award for his fabled Grunge Collection. Ironically, months before the CFDA awards were announced, they were fired for that very same collection.

In the fall of 1993, Jacobs Duffy Designs Inc. launched their own licensing and design company: Marc Jacobs International Company, L.P.