He enrolled in the pre-college program at Parson's School of Design as a high school freshman, spent two years interning at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum under the mentorship of curator Richard Martin and was accepted to London's prestigious Central St. Martin's at the age of 18. Taking the institution by storm with his bold and glamorous vision, Posen made the most of his rigorous studies at St. Martins by honing his craft and accruing several prizes and accolades. Among the most prestigious, a couture piece that he submitted for the Victoria & Albert "Curvaceous" exhibit won the V & A prize and eventually was acquired for the permanent collection. In addition to studying, Posen set up a studio in his basement apartment in Bloomsbury, where he began making one of a kind pieces and gowns for a formidable roster of private clients from both sides of the Atlantic. Arguably, this is where his most important training took place, designing, patternmaking, sewing and tailoring all of the custom garments himself, not to mention beginning his intimate relationship with the female client.
In 2001, Posen moved back to New York where he had caught the attention of several retailers and an invitation to participate in Gen Art Fashion Show. As usual, wasting no time, Posen went on from presenting a capsule collection in Gen Art to preparing for a full Fall 02 show which he presented at the Angel Orensanz Center to an audience of art world and fashion insiders. The line was immediately picked up by several key retailers. At this point, working from his parent's loft, Posen formally solicited the collaboration of his mother, Susan Posen as his CEO and of his older sister Alexandra as his Creative Director. Four years later, the Zac Posen line has made exponential progress and growth. Posen now works in a beautiful studio in Tribeca, where he generates three collections a year. He has surrounded himself with a formidable team of business experts and has created a world class sample studio in which to realize his designs.
Zac Posen's feminine and strong work has attracted such style leaders as Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Liv Tyler, Claire Danes and Oprah. His line has global distribution; it is sold in the United States at such leading retailers as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Barney's and the finest specialty retailers across the country, and it is carried throughout Europe in England, France, Germany, Italy, Russia as well as a growing market in Canada, Brazil and Japan.
For more information, visit www.zacposen.com and www.saksfifthavenue.com.
Zac Posen Trunk show
Saks Fifth Avenue
700 N. Michigan, Chicago
Thursday, April 10
Meet Zac Posen: 1pm-3pm
Informal Modeling: 12pm-3pm
Friday, April 11
Informal Modeling: 12pm-3pm
