ANDREW FEZZA FALL/WINTER 2014 MRKET LAS VEGAS
After graduation from Boston College, Andrew Fezza could have merely been a fashion-conscious dentist, but a trip across Europe changed his direction and inspired a decision to head to New York City and attend F.I.T. That trip would inform his design philosophy and approach – a seamless blend of European attitudes toward fashion with the modern American expectation of comfort and ease.
Fezza began his career working on Seventh Avenue as a design assistant and was mostly uninspired when looking for clothing for himself. He decided to design his own, learning the trade as he went. He soon gained some attention and recognition for wearing his own unique designs. People began taking notice and wanted his clothing for themselves and for their stores. Fezza brought his early designs to fashion editors and quickly received editorial coverage in top fashion publications such as GQ and Esquire magazines. Retail orders from Barney’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bergdorf Goodman soon followed, leading to the formation of Andrew Fezza Ltd. in 1979. Initial seed money came from friends and family and eventually led to a relationship with a Canadian venture capital group, establishing the ANDREW FEZZA brand as a new menswear designer label. Within just a few years, Fezza had become instrumental in the formation of the Designer’s Collective and had earned a number of awards – a Chrysler/Cartier Stargazer Award in 1981, a Cutty Sark Award for Most Promising Menswear Designer in 1982 and a Coty American Fashion Critics Award in 1983. The business rapidly grew through licensing and joint ventures with apparel firms such as Tucker International, Levi-Strauss, and Gruppo GFT.
Fezza built his brands image further by working with fashion photographers like Steven Klein and Herb Ritts on celebrity ad campaigns featuring iconic leading men such as Liam Neeson and John Malkovich . More awards came – a second and third Cutty Sark Award and the Council of Fashion Designers Award for Menswear in 1984. In 1998, a master licensing agreement with George Weintraub and Sons broadened the Andrew Fezza retail base with a collection that represented all menswear classifications at opening price points.
Commencing for spring 2012, Andrew Fezza Ltd. partnered with Peerless Clothing International to strategically position the ANDREW FEZZA brand in sportswear and tailored clothing as a full lifestyle designer collection. Through retail partnerships, marketing, and aggressive advertising campaigns, Andrew Fezza and Peerless will continue to expand the brand’s presence. The signature ANDREW FEZZA label remains synonymous with wearable clothing that melds classic American tailoring with artful European design. The recently launched FEZ by Andrew Fezza label is a full-scale diffusion collection aimed at fashion-conscious twentysomethings looking for a mix of innovative design and classic tailoring. Both labels are directional in fabric and fit and offer a distinctive take on modern design.
