Beene

Geoffrey Beene (1927) is an american designer. He is considered an imitative follower of Balenciaga due to his perfect skill in cutting and his sculptural use of fabric. He is famous for matching fabrics in an unusual way: flannel with strass, and jersey with taffeta. Born in Haynesville, Louisiana, he studied medicine but didn’t complete his degree. In the mid-1940s he is enrolled at the Traphagen School of Fashion in New York. In the years 1946-1947 he studied at the Académie Jullian in Paris and worked as an apprentice at the Molyneux tailor’s shop. Back in New York, he gained experience working for many prêt-à-porter fashion houses such as Teal Traina. In 1962 he went out on his own. In 1967 he began to design and produce ties, jewellery, swimwear, eye glasses, watches, perfumes such as Grey Flannel cologne, leather goods, and housewares. In 1969 he makes his début in men’s fashion and in 1970 launched a second line, Beene Bag. He has twice been given the Neiman Marcus Award and three times the Coty High Fashion Award.
At the inauguration of the Fashion Walk of Fame in New York, Beene is one of eight American designers honored with a bronze and granite plaque on Seventh Avenue, the street of fashion.
Eight Coty Awards, four CFDA prizes, and several career awards from museums and schools of fashion show how important the 76-year old designer is to the history of American fashion.
The shirtwear brand is under the firm control of the giant Phillips-Van Heusen, which also holds licenses for Donna Karan, Arrow, Kenneth Cole, and others.