Focus Fashion: Proenza Schouler
January 13th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough are the design duo behind the modern luxury womenswear and accessories label Proenza Schouler, founded in 2002. Proenza Schouler is named after the two designers’ mother’s maiden names, Proenza being the maiden name of Hernandez’s mother and Schouler that of McCollough’s mother.
The duo team met at 19 at Parson’s School of Design. Hernandez was an intern at Michael Kors and McCollough, at Marc Jacobs.They collaborated on their senior thesis collection and created their first Proenza collection which was entirely bought by Barneys New York. Proenza Schouler eventually played an important role for American Fashion. In fact, the luxury brand met a lot of success, in 2004, the emerging brand was awarded with the inaugural CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund. Three years later, Proenza Schouler was honored with the 2007 CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award. Then, in June 2011, the designers were awarded their second CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year Award.
Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough were originally inspired by famous French fashion brands Dior and Chanel as well as the American grunge, Nirvana. Their collection is mixed with sports and youth, combining elegance and sophistication with inspirations coming from the street, skate and sometimes surf scene. Their forms are often minimal preferring neutral and dark colors.
Proenza Schouler is sold in over 100 of the most exclusive retail outlets worldwide, including Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Harvey Nichols, Colette, and Joyce.
Pre-Fall 2012 Collection by Proenza Schouler
