A truly international designer, Zac burst onto the New York scene in 2002 after studying in London to critical acclaim for his debut runway show. In a fascinating tale of red carpet glamour and Hollywood moguls, Zac partnered with music icon Sean Combs to launch Z Spoke, his new line for Saks Fifth Avenue.
A New York Starter
Zac entered the world in New York City on October 24, 1980 to wealthy parents Stephen Posen, an acclaimed painter and Susan Posen, a business lawyer.
Zac spent his childhood in Manhattan's Soho district wandering through "the art and money scene of the 80's and 90's." Zac's mother recalled he was deeply into fashion from an earlier age, cutting up bits of fabric as soon he was able to hold a pair of scissors. One of his close childhood friends is actress Claire Danes.
Zac's parents, recognizing his emerging talents, sent him to study at St Ann's School for the Arts in Brooklyn and got him an internship with designer Nicole Miller while still high school.
Following this experience Zac enrolled directly at Parsons School for Design at age 16, only to move to London at 18 to enroll at Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design. In 1999 he graduated with a BA in Womenswear and the leather gown he did for his graduate project was acquired by the Royal Victoria and Albert Museum.
A Star is Born
Supermodel Naomi Campbell is credited with bring Zac's designs into the public eye for the first time after she wore a gown he made for her. The dress soon became a must-have item and was sported by a series of young socialites, each of who wore it to red carpet functions.
After graduation Zac came back to New York City to debut his first collect at New York Fashion Week for the Spring 2002 season. The runway show was held in a synagogue, and styled by Stella, the artist Julian Schnabel's daughter. Sitting in the front was fashion powerhouse Vogue's Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, along with Zac's celebrity friends like Sophie Dahl and Karen Elson. As if fated by destiny, the New York Times said afterwards that in his runway show "A Star is Born."
His form-flattering designs are loved by fashionable women, who adore the attention paid to the feminine and sculptured elements. With the support of the powers-that-be in the fashion world like Vogue EIC Anna Wintour and LVMH fashion group president Yves Carcelle, Posen launched his design career off with an abundance of good press.
Zac's fashion line, Alexandra Outspoke LLC, is a still a family run business with his older sister a mime and visual artist Alexandra as the label's creative director and his lawyer mother, Susan as the COO of the line. His new company is based out his design studio in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan. Offers to buy his company have come from fashion titans like Yves Carcelle - president of LVMH, Sidney Toledano - Director of Christian Dior SA, and Domenico De Sale - President of Gucci Group NV.
Posen Today
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs became a principal investor of Zac's fashion line in 2005, and following the announcement Posen gained a celebrity clientage like actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman, Claire Danes and Beyonce Knowles. "It's very strong women who wear my line," Posen said of his clients, "extremely confident and self-assured and powered women."
2008 marked a huge success for Posen as his new capsule line went on sale in 75 Target stores in Australia. The following year saw his core business in the US drip by double digits. The New York Times fashion critic stated "He is a little bit adorable and a little bit awful."
Taking this advice to heart Zac responded with tightening up the lines financials and created a new line Z Spoke as a less expensive alternative for Saks Fifith Avenue.
Posen's does three season collections a year with an eye to expanded into jeans, fragrances and retail boutiques. The 2012 Academy Awards saw actor nominee Glenn Cose wear a Zac Posen gown on the red carpet.
"I'm definitely planning ahead for a brand that spans the universe," Posen said, "a Zac Posen universe."