Quick Facts
Biography
Joseph Altuzarra is a luxury women's ready-to-wear clothing designer. He launched his brand, Altuzarra, in New York in 2008. His brand is influenced by his multicultural upbringing and his international education in fashion.
Biography
Born in 1983 in Paris, Altuzarra was raised by a Chinese-American mother and a French Basque father. As a boy he studied ballet for eight years. Joseph graduated from Swarthmore College with a B.A. in Art and Art History. Upon heading to New York, he interned at Marc Jacobs before his post at Proenza Schouler. Seeking to further enhance his technical construction skills, Joseph then apprenticed with patternmaker Nicolas Caïto, the former head of the Rochas atelier. Joseph later returned to Paris, working as first assistant to Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci.
Altuzarra was awarded the CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear Design in 2012 and the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award in 2011. His other awards include: Crain's New York Business 40 Under 40, Fashion Group International Rising Star of the Year, Out 100 Vanguard of the Year, Ecco Domani Award and Forbes 30 Under 30. In 2014, he was awarded the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year Award.
Awards
• 2014 CFDA Award
• 2013 Crain's New York Business 40 Under 40
• 2013 US Woolmark Prize Winner
• 2012 CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear Design
• 2012 Forbes 30 Under 30
• 2011 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award
• 2010 Out 100 Vanguard of the Year
• 2010 Fashion Group International Rising Star of the Year
• 2010 Ecco Domani Award
Timeline
| Year | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Born in Paris to a Chinese-American mother and a French father. The multicultural upbringing and keen interest in French culture including art, ballet, and film have been key to his unique influences throughout his collections. | |
| 2004 | Graduates from Swarthmore College with a B.A. in Art and Art History. Moves to New York, interns at Marc Jacobs. | |
| 2005 | Work as freelance designer at Proenza Schouler. Apprentices with patternmaker Nicolas Caïto, former head of Rochas atelier to further enhance his technical construction skills. | |
| 2006 | Returns to Paris as first assistant to Givenchy's Ricardo Tisci, refining his technique in draping and tailoring. | |
| 2008 | Launches Altuzarra, with a debut collection of 15-plus pieces. | |
| 2009 | Debuts first runway show for Spring 2010 Ready-to-wear collection, lauded by Vogue's Mark Holgate as a "great, confident performance." | |
| January 2010 | Wins the Ecco Domani award and Fashion Group International's Rising Star of the Year. | |
| July 2010 | Wins Out magazine's 100 Vanguard award. | |
| 2011 | Wins CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund prize. | |
| 2012 | Wins Swarovski Award for Womenswear Design. Listed in Forbes 30 Under 30. | |
| 2013 | Listed in Crain's New York Business 40 Under 40. |