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Fashion icon changed style
Her career women's designs had an impact on merchandising.
Associated Press
Published June 28, 2007
NEW YORK - Fashion designer Liz Claiborne, whose styles became a cornerstone of career women's wardrobes in the 1970s and 1980s, has died, the company she founded said Wednesday. She was 78. Ms. Claiborne died Tuesday at the New York Presbyterian Hospital after suffering from cancer for a number of years, said Gwen Satterfield, Ms. Claiborne's personal assistant. Ms. Claiborne founded Liz Claiborne Inc. in 1976 along with her husband, Art Ortenberg, and Leonard Boxer. Their goal was to create a collection of outfits aimed at the growing number of women entering the work force. The new approach to dressing revolutionized the department store industry, as Liz Claiborne executives were instrumental in working with department stores to present all the related pieces of a wardrobe in one department. The clothes became an instant hit, and the company went public in 1981. By 1985, Liz Claiborne Inc. was the first company founded by a woman to be listed in the Fortune 500, according to the company's Web site. The company, whose brands now include Ellen Tracy, Dana Buchman and Juicy Couture, generated sales of almost $5-billion last year. Ms. Claiborne retired from the day-to-day operations in 1989. "In losing Liz Claiborne, we have not only lost the founder of our company, but an inspirational woman who revolutionized the fashion industry 30 years ago," Bill McComb, CEO of Liz Claiborne, said in a statement. "Her commitment to style and design is ever present in our thinking and the way we work. We will remember Liz for her vision, her entrepreneurial spirit and her enduring compassion and generosity." Of the original founders, Boxer retired from the company in 1985, and Ms. Claiborne and her husband retired in 1989. There have been a number of changes since then. Last November, McComb joined the company as CEO and is overhauling the business to meet the demands of the consolidated department store industry. Ms. Claiborne owned a ranch near Helena, Mont., and, along with Ortenberg, supported numerous charitable, civic and educational groups in Montana. Ms. Claiborne's favored cause was discouraging domestic violence and Liz Claiborne Inc. continues to do fundraising projects to increase awareness of the issue.
[Last modified June 27, 2007, 22:48:16]
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