Gary Graham (fashion designer)

Gary Graham (born June 21, 1969 in Wilmington, Delaware) is an American fashion designer and artist. His flagship boutique and design studio is located in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City.

Background

Gary Graham was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. After graduating from Newark High School, he studied painting for a year at Maryland Institute College of Art before transferring to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, to study fashion design. Graham moved to New York City in 1993, where he worked as an assistant designer for J. Morgan Puett.

In 1999, Graham launched his eponymous line. The first collection introduced a historically inspired silhouette made entirely from garment-dyed quilted silk organza. With his early collections, Graham earned a favorable reputation for his elegantly deconstructed clothing and sophisticated craftsmanship. Today his clothing reflects his interest in history, contrasts between light and dark, and the roles of women in society.

For eight years Graham worked from his studio in a historic building in Tribeca. In August 2008 he opened his first boutique in the Flatiron District at ABC Carpet & Home, and opened his flagship store and studio in Tribeca in August 2009. In 2011 he launched Anagram, a capsule collection inspired by pieces from his namesake line.

Graham was a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist in 2009. In May 2010 Graham traveled to his alma mater in Chicago to accept the Legend of Fashion Award. He is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Awards and nominations

• 2009: CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalist
• 2010: Legend of Fashion Award, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago