Marc Jacobs – a name that can be read in boutiques and perfumeries on every corner. Behind it is an ambitious designer who has repeatedly proven himself to be a creative genius over the past few decades. His fashion is not only intended for the catwalks, but is also considered suitable for the streets. His prices differ from the usual luxury brands: a Marc Jacobs bag is usually much cheaper than the options from Chanel, Dior and Co. – and yet his products convince with high quality and unusual designs. Jacobs celebrates his 60th birthday on April 9th. A look back at his amazing career.
Marc Jacobs was born and raised in New York City. His family is Jewish, but he didn’t grow up particularly religious. When he was seven years old, his father died. His mother then married several times – he allegedly didn’t have a particularly good relationship with her. As “Page Six” quotes Jacobs’ uncle from the book “Champagne Supernovas”, the children were neglected after their father’s death. In 2011, Jacobs told Vogue he hadn’t spoken to his mother in over 20 years. She is said to have passed away now.
Jacobs didn’t have it easy during school either. Since he was not interested in sports and preferred to spend his time with arts and crafts, he was homophobically insulted at the time. “I was bullied and insulted, these words were spoken with hatred – long before I had any sexual experiences,” he recalled in “Vogue” in 2022. Today he lives happily with his husband Charly Defrancesco, who married in 2019.
Even then he knew he was attracted to other boys. That didn’t scare him either. “I had a problem and I was afraid of homophobia,” he emphasized. There was no coming out in front of his family – Jacobs simply didn’t think it was necessary. Heterosexual people would also not admit to their sexuality. And luckily, Jacobs found people around him who were accepting and open-hearted: “I surrounded myself with people who were gay or ‘gay-friendly’.” There were insults here and there, “but that didn’t really bother me,” says Jacobs.
After high school, Jacobs attended an art college, the Parsons School of Design. In 1984 he was awarded the Perry Ellis and Chester Weinberg designer prize. He was also named Design Student of the Year. In 1986 he designed his first collection under his current brand label Marc Jacobs. A year later he won the most prestigious award in the US fashion industry: the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Perry Ellis Award in the category “New Fashion Talent”. In 1992 he was recognized as the best designer for women’s fashion by the institute.
A year later, Marc Jacobs International Company, L.P. brought to life. Shortly thereafter, Jacobs designed his first men’s collection. From then on things went steeply uphill for the talented young designer. In 1997 he was appointed creative director of Louis Vuitton – a huge honor. Louis Vuitton (1821-1892) and Marc Jacobs, “two inventors, both in their respective decades, advanced an entire industry,” writes the Parisian luxury brand on its website. Jacobs stayed with the company for 16 years and created the brand’s first ready-to-wear line during his time as chief designer.
At the same time, he founded the sub-label Marc by Marc Jacobs in 2001. More affordable than the products under its main label, the line had around 200 physical stores worldwide. In 2006, Marc Jacobs started with fragrances, primarily body sprays. Just one year later, the label launched its now award-winning Daisy perfume range. Today they even have their own beauty line, ranging from mascara and lipstick to nail polish and care products.
In 2014, the fashion virtuoso left Louis Vuitton after years of successful collaboration. From then on he wanted to concentrate on his own labels, but only one year later he decided to close his sub-label Marc by Marc Jacobs. Five years passed and he ventured into a new project: Heaven. The brand is described as “polysexual”. Garments include grunge-inspired prints, popular Y2K-style cuts, and offbeat textures. He also offers weird cuddly bunnies and fairy wings. A look at the online shop and the boutiques quickly makes it clear: Heaven is Marc Jacobs for Gen Z.
Nonetheless, Marc Jacobs continues to focus on his “firstborn child”, the main label. Classic silhouettes, cool colors and clean cuts still characterize the brand today. The last major award came in 2019 when he was honored as a fashion pioneer at the MTV Video Music Awards.
pave the way for others. Something Marc Jacobs could hardly have imagined as a fashion-loving young adult in the early 80s. And yet he built bridges for young designers. But how did he manage to establish his place in the competitive fashion industry? “Being transparent, open and honest has helped me,” he said in a 2021 interview with “i-D”. For as long as he can remember he’s been getting his inspiration from the streets, movies, conversation and pop culture in general. Being always present seems to be one of Marc Jacobs’ secrets of success.
He probably doesn’t know himself what’s next for the 60-year-old. “The meaning of my life is still being written,” he is certain.
