Artist Research - Tommy Hilfiger

Born: 24 March 1951 (aged 63)

Awards won:

Parson's School of Designer of the Year (1998)
CDFA Menswear Designer of the Year (1995)
CQ's Magazine International Designer of the Year (2002)

He began by customising jeans and selling them on. His first shop went bankrupt when he was 25, he then enrolled to study commerce. He turned down Calvin Klein even though he was broke and started the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation in 1985.

Hilfiger's Wikipedia, Hilfiger's Website.

Artist Research - Valentino Clemente Ludovico Caravani

Born: 11 May 1932 (aged 82)

Awards won:

Grande Ufficiale Dell' Ordine Al Merito Della Repubblica Italiana
Cavaliere Del Lavoro
The Neiman Marcus Award

He first found an apprenticeship with Jean Dresses for five years. He then joined his friend's Guy Laroche's 'tiny tiny' fashion house before setting up himself in 1959.

Valentino's Wikipedia, Valentino's Website.

Artist Research - Gianni Versace

Born: 2 December 1946
Died: 15 July 1997 (aged 50)

Awards won:

Commendatore Della Repubblica Italiana (1986)
American Fashion Oscar (1993)

Versace produces accessories, fragrances, make-up and home furnishings as well as clothing.

He designed costumes for the theatre and screen, and is considered the first designer to link fashion and music.

Versace's Wikipedia, Versace's Website.

Artist Research - Alexander McQueen

Born: 17 March 1969
Died: 11 Feb 2010 (40 years of age)

Awards won:

British Fashion Designer of the Year (1996, 1997, 2001, 2003)
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Council of Fashion Designers of America International Designer of the Year (2003)

McQueen has served apprenticeships with Savile Row tailors, as well as working at theatrical costumiers and being head designer at Givenchy. He is well known for his 'bumsters' jeans and especially for his skull designs, and a skull scarf is considered a McQueen must have.

McQueen's Wikipedia, McQueen's Website.