November 16th, 2010
Congratulations are in order to menswear designer Billy Reid (whose spring/summer ’11 collection is pictured at left), who took home the seventh CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund prize last night. The prize includes $300,000, a year of mentorship, and a bronze trophy. This year’s runners-up, who win $100,000 and a year of mentorship, are Prabal Gurung and jewelry designer Eddie Borgo.
This isn’t Reid’s first victory among the CFDA ranks. Reid launched his namesake collection in 1998 to rave reviews and in 2001, “William Reid,” the brand, garnered the prestigious CFDA Perry Ellis Award. Unfortunately, business fell off shortly after 9/11, when the entire industry saw consumer spending dropping significantly. With a lack of revenue and capital, Reid decided to shutter his brand. It wasn’t until 2004 that be decided to re-launch, this time, with the shorter “Billy Reid” as his collection name. Now, Reid is an award winner once again.
We caught up with Reid earlier this fall as part of our exclusive online series about “Ten Things That Never Go Out of Style.” Check out the feature HERE.
Tags: Billy Reid
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September 12th, 2010
While half of our team is in Toronto covering the Film Festival, our fashion director Liz McClean and her team have been busy making the rounds at New York Fashion Week. Since we aren’t exactly a “shopping” magazine, we’re less concerned about the top trends of the season or the celebrities wearing them. Instead, we’ve got our eye on the talented crop of designers behind the clothing, and the way they spin their inspirations into a cohesive collection. These are the designers who bring new ideas to the table, without ever wavering too far from the foundations and principles of strong, classic, design — something we aspire to do here every day at Corduroy as well!
Read our reviews and see photos from some of our favorite shows from the past few days, after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Band of Outsiders, Billy Reid, Jen Kao, new york fashion week, Rachel Comey, Scott Sternberg
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March 29th, 2010
Designer William “Billy” Reid’s story reads more like a gripping novel than a fashion editorial from the pages of a magazine. Born in Louisiana, his childhood was spent between two worlds: outdoors with his father and friends, and behind the counter at his mother’s clothing boutique for women. His college education would mirror this divide, with the PE major eventually pursuing fashion design and merchandising. After stints with Saks Fifth Avenue and Reebok (and a brief foray with his own fashion design and marketing company in Dallas), Reid launched his namesake collection in 1998 to rave reviews. This immediate success inspired the designer to move his studio to New York in 2000 and to add a women’s collection to the line. In 2001, “William Reid,” the brand, garnered the prestigious CFDA Perry Ellis Award.
But things turned sour after 9/11, when the entire industry began to experience some unforeseen unease, with consumer spending dropping significantly. With a lack of revenue and capital, Reid decided to shutter his brand. It wasn’t until 2004 that be decided to re-launch, this time, with the shorter “Billy Reid” as his collection name.
Billy Reid, now fully realized, is a collection with roots in a specific Southern past. Reid still designs his collection in Florence, Alabama and employs artisan factories in Europe and America to realize his dreams. The men’s and women’s lines both hark back to the days of working in the countryside and camping with friends, though updated with tailored cuts and patterns for 2010. It seems in both clothing and business, Reid is showing how he can take away lessons from the past, and use it to ensure that he’s around for the future.
We asked Reid to take part in our exclusive online series about “things that never go out of style.” Here is his top ten list:
1. Kris Kristofferson
2. A well-fitted navy blazer
3. Cowboy Boots
4. Levi’s
5. Aviators
6. Fried Chicken
7. Weber Grills
8. Good looking women
9. Friends
10. Antiques
Reid works out of his flagship shop and studio on North Court Street in Florence, AL. Additional Billy Reid shops include his Bond Street location in New York City, and locations in Nashville, Charleston, Charlotte, Dallas and Houston. Details at billyreid.com.
Tags: Billy Reid, Things That Never Go Out of Style, Tim Chan
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