Marc Bouwer

Marc Bouwer is a fashion designer who was raised in South Africa and now works in New York City.

Career

Upon winning the South African Vogue Young Designers Award, Marc Bouwer moved to New York City to further pursue his dream of dressing Hollywood. Shortly after, Bouwer's portfolio raised the eyebrows of designer, Roy Halston Frowick. Bouwer apprenticed with Halston fine tuning his design skills, particularly draping. Bouwer's "cut" and modern use of stretch fabrics, such as jersey and spandex, in evening wear coined the term "bathing suit gown" and gave way to "athletic glamour" .[1] Opening house in 1990 with business partner, Paul Margolin, Marc Bouwer Couture has since graced the covers and pages of publications including Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair, Glamour, and InStyle. Each piece tailored to perfection, Marc Bouwer Couture celebrates starlets as well as their iconic figures walking the red carpet on clients such as Zhang Ziyi, Beyoncé, Emily Blunt, and Lydia Hearst. Actress Angelina Jolie arrived at the 2004 Academy Awards in a white satin Marc Bouwer gown, later named one of the best Oscar dresses of all time by André Leon Talley.[2] Bouwer also had the pleasure of walking friend and singer, Whitney Houston,[3] down the aisle when he designed her wedding dress along with various gowns and costumes for countless breathtaking performances. In February 2012, Patti Stanger was one of a group of celebrities that walked down a catwalk in various red dresses for the 'Heart Truth Red Dress Collection show, part of New York Fashion Week. Patti wore a size 2 Marc Bouwer red dress.[4] Most recently Bouwer helped in reintroducing us to loyal client and friend, Shania Twain, designing the costumes for her Still The One Tour which opened December 1, 2012 at Caesars Palace.[5][6] Bouwer further extends his inspiration of everything woman and love of couture in allowing his designs to stray from the red carpet and into every woman's closet with projects such as QVC M by Marc Bouwer sportswear,[7] Glamit, and his new line of party dresses, Marc Bouwer Hybrid.

Marc Bouwer has not only modernized glamour but also the idea of a fashion show. Bouwer was the first American designer to produce a virtual fashion show in response to economic struggle across the globe as well as in respect to the environment. As opposed to bringing us to Bryant Park, Bouwer took us, and his inaugural Spring/Summer 2009 collection, to the web.[8] Not only did this new medium of fashion allow friends and clients to experience the collection if unable to physically attend a show, but it also opened the experience into the offices and homes of stylists, buyers, journalists, and fashionistas everywhere. Bouwer felt it was his "social and environmental responsibility" to pave way to such a movement "minimizing impact and waste".[9] Bouwer virtually presented his Fall 2010 collection, starring Candice Swanepoel, before taking the experience one step further.[10] In February 2011 Bouwer was the first designer to present a virtual 3D fashion show with his Fall 2011 collection starring model Selita Ebanks.[11]

Awards

Bouwer's awards for avoiding animal products in his fashions include a PETA Humanitarian Award, and The United States Humane Societies “Compassion in Fashion Award”. Marc uses technology in designing, to create cruelty free fashion with high quality faux furs, garnering several PETA sponsorships.[12]

As reviewed by WWD in 2005: "His fall collection was an ode to the silver screen sirens of yesteryear - think Veronica Lake melt-in-your-mouth silk satin columns- which bodes well for the sexy starlets of today who adore Monsieur Marc so much."

Television appearances

Title Role Notes Year
Blue Bloods Himself Season 1, Episode 19 2011
Project Runway Guest Judge Season 6, Episode 4 2009
Ebony Fashion Fair: 50 Years of Style Himself TV Movie 2008
I Am an Animal: The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA Himself Documentary 2007
Miss Universe 2007 Judge TV Special 2007
CMT: The Greatest- 20 Sexiest Videos of 2006 Himself TV Special 2006
The Apprentice U.S. Team Designer Season 5, Episode 13 2006
CMT: Greatest Moments: Shania Twain Himself TV Special 2006
Paris Hilton: Not So Simple Himself TV Documentary 2005
America's Next Top Model Designer, Go-See Challenge Cycle 3, Episode 7 2004
Miss Universe 2001 Judge TV Special 2001

References

  1. ↑ "Marc Bouwer Biography". Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  2. ↑ http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/andre-leon-talley-on-the-best-oscars-dresses-of-all-time/#1
  3. ↑ "Whitney Houston's Unforgettable Moments". InStyle.com. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Stars Hit the Runway for Heart Health". Shape.com. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  5. ↑ Stevenson, Jane (30 November 2012). "The Man Behind Shania Twain's Vegas Look". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  6. ↑ Billboard, Staff (2 December 2012). < "Shania Twain Kicks Off Vegas Run With First Show in 8 Years". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  7. ↑ http://www.qvc.com/M-by-Marc-Bouwer-Fashion.category.0100.html?refine=1001297+4294967022
  8. ↑ "Marc Bouwer Spring 2009 New York Fashion Week". Firstpost.com. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  9. ↑ http://marcbouwer.com/Spring2009/press/download/MarcBouwerS09PressRelease.pdf
  10. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwXO7g4-gp0
  11. ↑ Rubaum-Keller, Irene (8 February 2011). "Marc Bouwer: The First Ever 3D Fashion Show at Fashion Week". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  12. ↑ http://www.peta.org/tv/videos/skins/292377265001.aspx

Further reading

External links

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