Lord and Taylor Confirms Creation of Proprietary Menswear Line With Designer Joseph Abboud

The production of tailored clothing, sportswear and accessories for the company Lord and Taylor will be designed by Joseph Abboud starting 2008. Abboud who is very appreciate for quality and elegance will join Charles Nolan, Cynthia Steffe and Bryan Bradley in Lord and Taylor's growing stable of American Designers...

Lord and Taylor Press Release:

Jane Elfers, President and CEO of Lord and Taylor, confirmed today a partnership between renowned menswear designer Joseph Abboud and Lord and Taylor. Abboud will assume design responsibility for all classifications of Lord and Taylor's proprietary men's product including tailored clothing, sportswear, and accessories. The product will debut in Fall 2008 with deliveries beginning in August. In addition, Abboud will also serve as Creative Director for the Men's Store.

Elfers said, "We are so excited to have Joseph Abboud as our partner. The ability to work one on one with someone of Joseph's caliber is an amazing opportunity for our men's merchants. The team is anxious to get started with Joseph on this exciting project and we look forward to working closely with him as we continue to upgrade our men's assortments.

" Like Lord and Taylor, Joseph Abboud is rooted in an American tradition that evades the boundaries of time with a style sensibility infused with intelligence, grace and ease. "Lord and Taylor is a great American name and it deserves great American product," Abboud says. Creating a new and spirited tailored collection for the iconic store gives Abboud a dynamic opportunity to redefine menswear. "I like the idea of being viewed as an editor, voice, creator," he said. The collaboration between Lord and Taylor and what its name stands for in the fashion industry, gives Abboud the perfect possibility to integrate his abiding love for the classical and remarkable approach to design elegance with the honest design of his concept for Lord and Taylor. "It is about creating affordable luxury with integrity of design and quality. It is not about price," adds Abboud.

Abboud joins Charles Nolan, Cynthia Steffe and Bryan Bradley in Lord and Taylor's growing stable of American Designers. By appointing Abboud, Elfers further demonstrates the 181-year-old store's commitment to up-grading merchandise assortments and in-store services and amenities, that has created widespread industry buzz. In mid August, the store launched a $10M re- branding campaign created by David Lipman and photographed by Mario Testino, that projects the store's unapologetically classic style. The branding campaign includes a total overhaul of its media mix, while new brand packaging debuted last week in the 47 Lord and Taylor stores throughout the Northeast. As part of the re-branding, a $250 million capital budget has also been earmarked over the next five years.

Abboud was drawn to the Fashion business by a deep appreciation for quality and elegance. After studying comparative literature at the University of Massachusetts, he went on to attend the Sorbonne in Paris, where he grew to love the sophisticated polish of European style. In 1968, Abboud joined the prestigious retail store, Louis of Boston. Over the course of twelve years, he served as Buyer, Merchandiser, and eventually Coordinator of Promotion and Advertising. Three years as Director of Menswear Design for Polo/Ralph Lauren further refined Abboud's own vision of Men's Style. Says Abboud about his decision to go out on his own, "I realized I had something new to say, something that wasn't already out there.

"Since the debut of his collection, Abboud has been accorded numerous honors including the distinction of being the only designer to have received the coveted Menswear Designer of the Year two years in a row (1989 & 1990) from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Especially meaningful to Abboud was the Special Achievement Award from The Neckwear Association of America, which he received in May 1994. Other awards and honors include The Cutty Sark Award for Most Promising Menswear Designer (1988), the first Woolmark Award for Distinguished Fashion (1989) and in March of 1993. In 1995, Abboud was honored for Excellence in American Design by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and in May 1997, Abboud was presented with the Michael Award for Menswear Designer of the Year. Numerous other awards have followed. He is currently working with two networks on a lifestyle program. He has recently published his biography with Harper Collins, entitled Threads and is currently writing his second book, a novel on the fashion industry.

Source: Lord and Taylor