Today’s Black History spotlight shines on designer Byron Lars.
A native of Oakland California, Lars began designing for himself and friends, and trained later at the Brooks Fashion Institute in Long Beach and the Fashion Institute of Technology. Lars' 1991 collection was hugely popular, earning him the title of ‘rookie of the year’ by Women’s Wear Daily. His designs sold in Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Henri Bendel. But after a licensing deal went wrong, he was forced to quit his design business.
He came back in 1996, when Mattel asked him to design a collectible Barbie doll, complete with her own wardrobe. His Barbie designs proved so successful Mattel asked Lars in 1997 to develop an entire line of African American Barbie dolls, all dressed in designer clothes.
Tatu BarbieMbili BarbieNne BarbieThose Barbies are gorgeous! I'm sure you can't even find them on
eBay!He launched a Green-T label in 2000 and a Beauty Mark label in 2001. Maybe his menswear inspired designs will make a comeback for 2007???
Either way, a flute of champagne to Byron Lars!
1 comments:
Thank you for featuring Byron Lars, Is there a e-mail address for him, I'm a design student at El Camino college and I would like to ask Byron a few questions for my class assignment. I have three of his Barbie designs signed by Mr Lars himself and I am very proud of him
Cheryl B
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