Wiki & Biography : Marc Jacobs – Family, Family Tree

Marc Jacobs is an American head fashion designer for Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs with more than 200 retail stores in 80 countries. Years after his debut in the fashion industry, Marc’ work continues to turn heads. He has also authorized his name to perfumes and accessories.

Early Life and Career

Jacobs took admission in the Parsons School of Design and later got a position at Perry Ellis. Then, he started his own label and continued to influence the fashion world. When Marc was still a teenager, he moved in with his paternal grandmother, feeling alienated from his family including his mother and siblings, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. While living with his grandmother he truly felt safe at home and love for aesthetically beautiful things. His grandmother influenced him to design creatively and take design as a profession.

While attending the High School of Art and Design, he also worked at an upscale clothing boutique Charivari. Charivari staff permitted their 15 year old young stock boy to design sweaters, fold clothes and dress mannequins. The experience helped Jacobs reserve a seat at the coveted Parsons School for Design. In 1984, he stood out among his competitors by winning both Design Student of the Year and the Perry Ellis Gold Thimble Award at graduation.

Family Background

Parents

Marc Jacobs was born in New York City. His parents were agents at William Morris. His father once represented Joan Rivers. Unfortunately, Marc lost his father at age 7 and during his youth, he coped with his mother’s mental illness. After his father’s death, his mother responded poorly causing serious upheaval in the family. Jacobs and his siblings, with each remarriage, would be forced to relocate. Yet, Jacobs dreamt of becoming a designer.

Siblings

His sister is now a New Jersey housewife. His brother works in real estate in California. However, his relation with both of them is not good as he stopped communicating with them in a very young age.

Marriage

In St. Barts in the French West Indies, Marc married boyfriend Lorenzo Martone, at a friend’s home in January 2010. Lorenzo Martone is a Brazilian PR executive.

Career

Jacobs, at the age of 21, designed his first collection for the brand Sketchbook for Reuben Thomas. For New Fashion Talent, he became the youngest designer to collect the Council of Fashion Designers of America Perry Ellis Award in 1987. After Perry Ellis closed its manufacturing operations in 1993 — and after Marc sent out tons of collection for the brand that critics loved, however, the company hated—Marc struck out on his own.

With Robert Duffy, his longtime business partner, he started his own company, with financial backing from his prior bosses. The brand Marc Jacobs soon proved to be a success.

In 1997, Jacobs was chosen creative director, in Paris, of the Louis Vuitton house of luxury goods. In 2002, he was named as the Menswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. They also named him Accessories Designer of the Year in the years 1998/99, 2003 and 2005.