About Zac Posen

Zac Posen, at only 25 years old, has already earned a place in fashion history. His leather dress, designed for the ‘Curvaceous’ exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum, was awarded the V&A; Prize and acquired for the museum’s permanent collection. This event marked the beginning of great things for the young New York native.

Born in 1980, the son of a painter, Posen enrolled in the pre-college program at the Parsons School of Design, later joining Saint Ann’s School for the Arts in Brooklyn. His fashion studies led him to Central Saint Martins in 1999 where he embarked on à BÀ in womenswear. However he soon packed in his studies in order to start his own label, which was an immediate success.

His glamorous signatures include bias-cut gowns, fishtail hemlines and a passion for screen-siren style. His talent was swiftly recognised by the fashion industry: he was a finalist for the ENKA International Fashion Design Award in 2002 and a nominee for the CFDA award for new talent in both 2002 and 2003 before winning the Perry Ellis Award in 2004.

That year proved to be a groundbreaking period for Posen. In April, Sean John, the fashion company backed by Sean ‘Puff Daddy’ Combs, announced it was making a long-term investment in Posen’s label. However, it is Posen that continues to steer the label creatively, driving it forward with his vision of a strong, feminine silhouette. With Sean John’s financial backing, the days when he was forced to fund his first catwalk show with the ?14,000 prize from a fashion competition are a distant memory. Freed from monetary restraints, he is now able to concentrate on expanding his ready-to-wear collection and developing his accessories line.