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DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
Growing up, I developed a strong connection with European attitudes and ideas, which continue to influence my life and work. I am especially inspired by Italian culture so my designs reflect both my American upbringing and a passion for my Italian heritage. Combining these elements has allowed me to create clothing that exemplifies beauty and quality while allowing for the comfort and ease expected by modern American men.
BIOGRAPHY
Andrew Fezza was not always headed toward fashion. After graduating from the Pre-Dental program at Boston College he realized his true calling and enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Upon completing his studies, Fezza began his career working as a design assistant for Schrader Sport, a leading Seventh Avenue women's sportswear company. Seeing an unfilled niche in the men's market, he began designing his own unique men's sportswear. Fezza showed his initial prototypes to fashion editors and quickly received editorial coverage in GQ and Esquire magazines. Orders soon followed from better department and specialty stores such as Neiman Marcus, Barney's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales and Macy's. As men's fashion emerged as a force in its own right, Fezza seized the opportunity to become a major player in the growing line-up of prominent American menswear designers. And, in 1980, he formed Andrew Fezza, Ltd. to market his collection of men's sportswear. He then became a charter member of the Designer's Collective and showcased his collection to the menswear community. Fezza steadily gained a strong foothold in department and specialty stores through expanded partnerships with large apparel companies such as Levi Strauss and Gruppo GFT. As the brand developed throughout the 1980s, the licensed product categories also expanded creating a complete line of men's apparel from small leather goods to tailored clothing and tuxedos. In 1984, he introduced his first women's ready-to-wear collection licensed by Levi-Strauss. In 1988, a partnership with international clothing powerhouse Gruppo GFT, manufacturer for Armani, Valentino and Ungaro, enabled Fezza to turn his design talents to tailored clothing and to build a successful business in upscale department and specialty stores. In 1998, Fezza signed a master license agreement with clothing giant George Weintraub & Sons and launched the Andrew Fezza New York label for men's tailored clothing. This collection combined the designer's sensibility with moderate price points and represented the opening price-point for a designer suit. In 2000, George Weintraub & Sons expanded the collection to include a line of suit separates and formalwear under the Fusion by Andrew Fezza label which has gained a wide distribution in department stores. Since then, the partnership with George Weintraub & Sons has expanded through additional licensing agreements to include all the major menswear classifications including: tailored clothing, tailored separates, formalwear, tuxedos, formal accessories, sportswear, rainwear, sport coats, top coats, dress pants, leatherwear, casual outerwear, casual pants, dress shirts, hosiery, belts, neckwear, small leather goods and watches.
TIMELINE
1955 Born in New Haven, Connecticut
1976 Graduated from Boston College
1977 Graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology
1977-1978 Assistant designer for womenswear, Schrader Sport, New York
1978 Formed Andrew Fezza Ltd.
1979 Launched Andrew Fezza menswear
1981 Chrysler Stargazer Award
1982 Cutty Sark Award for Most Promising Menswear Designer
1983 Coty American Fashion Critics Award
1984 Cutty Sark Award for Outstanding Menswear Designer
1984 Partnership with Levi-Strauss & Company for womenswear
1984 Council of Fashion Designers Award for menswear
1985 Cutty Sark Award for Outstanding Menswear Designer
1986 Licensed tailored clothing for Gruppo GFT
1990 Entered joint venture with Gruppo GFT
1991 Launched fusion clothing collection, Assets by Andrew Fezza with Gruppo GFT
1997 Formed joint venture with George Weintraub & Sons for all menswear products
1998 Signed license agreement with Supreme International for sportswear
2000 Signed license agreement with Aron Group for neckwear and belts
2001 Signed license agreement with Farash & Robbins for watches
2002 Signed license agreements for hosiery, outerwear, small accessories and tuxedos
2004 Signed license agreements for dress shirts and neckwear with Extra Trade, Inc.
2004 Signed license agreements for men's sportswear collection with Sierra Fashions, Inc.
2005 Launched men's loungewear/underwear with Apparel Partnership Group
CONTACT
TAILORED CLOTHING & SUIT SEPARATES George Weintraub & Sons 641 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor New York, New York, 10022 Telephone 212 581 8708 Fax 212 246 5975
SPORTSWEAR Sierra Fashions 1466 Broadway, Suite 700 New York, New York, 10036 Telephone 212 239 9700 Fax 212 239 4339
DRESS SHIRTS & NECKWEAR Extra Trade, Inc. 1410 Broadway, Suite 1104 New York, New York, 10018 Telephone 212 840 0666 Fax 212 840 0220
LOUNGEWEAR & UNDERWEAR Apparel Partnership Group, Inc. 250 West 39th Street New York, New York, 10018 Telephone 212-221-9793
YOUNG MENS BAK Apparel, Inc. 131 West 33rd Street, Suite 216 New York, New York, 10001 Telephone 212 912 1500 Fax 212 912 1502
CANADA - SPORTSWEAR, DRESS SHIRTS & NECKWEAR John Forsyth Shirt Company Ltd. 6789 Airport Road Mississauga, Ontario L4V 1N2
