This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. It needs additional citations for verification. Tagged since August 2010. It is written like an advertisement and needs to be rewritten from a neutral point of view. Tagged since August 2010. It may have been edited by a contributor who has a close connection with its subject. Tagged since August 2010. Its tone or style may not reflect the formal tone used on Wikipedia. Tagged since August 2010.

Max Azria
Max Azria at the Spring 2009 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Born	(1949-01-01) January 1, 1949 (age 63) Sfax, Tunisia
Nationality	French
Occupation	Fashion designer
Spouse	Lubov Azria
Labels	BCBGMAXAZRIA BCBGMAXAZRIA Runway Hervé Léger by Max Azria Max Azria BCBGeneration Miley Cyrus & Max Azria

Max Azria (born January 1, 1949) is a Tunisian fashion designer who founded the contemporary women's clothing brand BCBGMAXAZRIA. Azria is also the designer, chairman and CEO^[1] of BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP, a global fashion house that encompasses over 20 brands.^[2] He is based in Los Angeles.

Background[link]

Max Azria was born in Sfax, Tunisia,^[3] as the youngest of 6 children. As a child, Max was educated in southeastern France before his family relocated to Paris, France, in 1963.

Career[link]

After 11 years of designing a line of women's apparel in Paris, Azria moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1981^[3] and launched Jess, a series of new-concept retail boutiques for women's apparel.

BCBGMAXAZRIA[link]

In 1989, Azria launched BCBGMAXAZRIA,^[1] named for the French phrase "bon chic, bon genre," a Parisian slang meaning "good style, good attitude".^[1] Azria was credited for offering designer fashion at affordable price points and, as a result, was inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 1998.^[4] The BCBGMAXAZRIA Runway collection was first presented at New York Fashion Week in 1996.^[5]

Azria also maintains two eponymous designer collections, Max Azria Atelier and Max Azria. Launched in February 2004, Max Azria Atelier^[1] is a collection of couture gowns created for celebrity clients and red-carpet events. Sharon Stone,^[6] Halle Berry,^[7] Fergie^[8] and Alicia Keys^[8] have worn the label on the red carpet. In February 2006, Azria debuted Max Azria, a ready-to-wear collection with a directional aesthetic, on the runway at New York Fashion Week.^[9] During the 2009 awards season, Angelina Jolie wore Max Azria to the 2009 Screen Actors Guild Awards^[10] and the 2009 Critics Choice Awards.^[11]

Azria acquired the Hervé Léger fashion house in 1998,^[4] marking the first time in history that an American designer had acquired a French couturier.^[12] In early 2007, Azria relaunched the Hervé Léger label with his own designs, which were quickly embraced by celebrities and trendsetters worldwide.^[4] Beyoncé Knowles,^[13] Jennifer Lopez,^[14] Catherine Zeta-Jones^[15] and Kate Winslet^[15] are among the celebrities who have worn the label for red carpet events.

In Fall 2008, Max Azria presented BCBGMAXAZRIA Runway, Max Azria and Hervé Léger by Max Azria at New York Fashion Week, marking the first time an American designer produced three major fashion shows during one New York Fashion Week.^[16]

Azria launched a young contemporary collection called BCBGeneration in 2008.^[17] In June 2009, Azria teamed up with Miley Cyrus to create a line for Walmart called Miley Cyrus & Max Azria.^[2] Azria also designed clothing for Cyrus' 2009 American tour.

Max Azria's Collection.

Company[link]

BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP is a global fashion house with a portfolio including more than 20 brands.^[2] Max Azria is the CEO, chairman and head designer alongside his wife, Lubov Azria, who acts as chief creative officer.^[1]

There are currently over 550 BCBGMAXAZRIA boutiques worldwide, including locations in London, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong.^[1] Azria’s collections are also sold in specialty stores and major department stores across the globe, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, the UK’s Harvey Nichols, Hong Kong’s Lane Crawford, Taiwan’s Mitsukoshi and Singapore’s Takashimaya stores.^[1]

BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP campaigns regularly feature notable models, including Eva Herzigova,^[18] Karen Elson^[19] and Jessica Stam.^[20] The company frequently works with internationally renowned photographers such as Patrick Demarchelier,^[18] Paolo Roversi and David Sims.^[21] BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP clothing are frequently featured in major fashion publications such as Vogue, InStyle and Vanity Fair.^[22] As well as online sites such as Style.com and iFashion Network

Awards and honors[link]

Azria has received many awards throughout his career, including the California Designer of the Year (1995), Atlanta Designer of the Year (1996), The Fashion Performance Award (1997), The Otis Fashion Achievement Award (2000), Hollywood Life’s Breakthrough Award (2004) and The Dallas Fashion Award (2005). Azria also received the Wells Fargo Century Fashion Achievement Award at the 2007 L.A. Fashion Awards^[23] and the 2008 Fashion Excellence Award at the 33rd Annual Dallas Fashion Awards.^[24] He received the latter in recognition of the successful relaunch of his Hervé Léger brand.

Personal life[link]

Max Azria is married to Lubov Azria, chief creative officer for BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP.^[25] He has six children, including Joyce Azria, who was named creative director of BCBGeneration in 2009.^[26] He and his family currently reside in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California.^[27]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official site
• Max Azria designer profile at Fashion Model Directory

This article is an orphan, as few or no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from related articles; suggestions may be available. (October 2010)

Lubov Azria
Born	(1967-11-08) November 8, 1967 (age 44) Kiev, Ukraine
Nationality	Ukrainian
Education	Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
Occupation	Fashion designer
Spouse	Max Azria
Labels	BCBGMAXAZRIA BCBGMAXAZRIA Runway Hervé Léger by Max Azria Max Azria
Website
Official website

Lubov Azria (born November 8, 1967) is an American fashion designer ^[1] of Ukrainian descent. Azria is currently the Chief Creative Officer of BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP, a global fashion house with over 20 brands.^[2]

Biography[link]

Lubov Azria was born on November 8, 1967, in Kiev, Ukraine. Growing up as an only child, Azria studied ballet from an early age and eventually trained with the renowned Bolshoi Ballet youth division.^[3]

In 1980 her parents relocated to San Antonio, Texas, USA, where Azria further explored her passion for the arts. In 1986 Azria moved to Los Angeles, California, where she obtained a degree from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.^[4]

Career[link]

Azria joined BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP in 1991 after a mutual friend referred her to the company's founder, and her future husband, Max Azria.^[4] As chief creative officer, Azria leads the company's design team and oversees marketing and merchandising for the group's 20-plus labels, which include the core brand BCBGMAXAZRIA and the high fashion labels BCBGMAXAZRIA Runway, Hervé Léger and Max Azria.^[5] Of her close working relationship with her husband, Azria explains, "We're a great combo. Max is the visionary, and I'm more detail-oriented. It creates the perfect balance."^[6]

Azria is often called the muse of BCBGMAXAZRIA, being the design inspiration for her husband and even insisting on fitting the pants on herself.^[7] She defines style as "grace, confidence and effortlessness," and describes her personal style as "independent, free and chic."^[8]

In 2006 Azria and her husband debuted the collection Max Azria, as well as BCBGMAXAZRIA, in two shows during New York Fashion Week.^[9] In February 2008, the couple added the brand Hervé Léger by Max Azria to their lineup,^[10] marking the first time in history that an American designer produced three different fashion shows during one New York Fashion Week.^[11] After each show, Azria, typically dressed in one of the collection's looks, joins her husband on the runway to address the audience.

Azria partnered with perfumer Sarah Horowitz-Thran to create BCBGMAXAZRIA's first fragrance, called Within, which launched in stores across the United States in November 2009.^[12] Azria was involved with the development of the scent, and Horowitz-Thran calls her the inspiration behind it. Azria's image is on the packaging as well as the bottle she says, "because this is something that I feel strongly about. There is a real person behind the vision."^[13]

Azria uses social media to connect with customers. "You don't always have to be right," she has said, "but you have to be focused on the customers' needs."^[4] She maintains a blog with behind-the-scenes information and creative inspiration, and she frequently updates the company's Twitter page. Azria has said that she watches "the TED conference incessantly"^[2] and that browsing YouTube is her "favorite part of the day."^[7]

In 2010, Azria was recognized for her work as a designer with membership in the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), inducted as part of its Class of 2010.^[14]

Personal life[link]

Lubov married Max Azria on July 11, 1992. Together they have three daughters, Chloe, Anais and Agnes, and Azria is stepmother to Max's three elder children, Michael, Joyce and Marine. Azria lives with her family in Holmby Hills, California, in a 60-room mansion called la Maison du Soleil that Azria decorated along with interior designer Aly Daly.^[15]

Azria is involved with arts and charitable organizations. Alongside her husband, Azria has co-chaired for three consecutive years the annual Art Party Benefit in support of the Whitney Museum of American Art's Independent Study Program.^[16] The Azrias co-hosted with Kate Bosworth in 2007,^[17] with Rachel Bilson in 2008^[18] and with Camilla Belle in 2009.^[19] Azria collaborated with artist E. V. Day In 2008 for an Hervé Léger-inspired sculpture sold at auction during the event,^[20] and with artist Mark Fox in 2009 to create a limited edition umbrella celebrating the legacy of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, the museum's founder.^[21]

Each October BCBGMAXAZRIA partners with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to raise money for breast cancer awareness through the sale of merchandise.^[22] In 2008 the partnership's pink sunglasses and pashminas were featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.^[23] Through the Max Azria brand, Azria has been a longtime supporter of HELP Malawi and continues to sell the label's HELP Malawi T-shirt on the company's website.^[24] Azria has participated in 2009s Fashion's Night Out event^[25] and 2010's Fashion for Haiti effort.^[26]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website