Max+Azria-The+Designer

Founder of BCBG: Max Azaria
**Max Azria** (born January 1, 1949) is a French fashion designer of Tunisian descent who founded the contemporary women's clothing brand BCBGMAXAZRIA. Azria is also the designer, chairman and CEO of BCBGMAXAZRIA Group, a global fashion house that encompasses over 22 brands. Azria's wife, Lubov Azria, acts both as muse and creative director for the company.

Born in Sfax, Tunisia, Azria began his fashion career in Paris, France, where he designed a line for nearly 11 years before moving to Los Angeles, California, in 1981. Azria launched BCBGMAXAZRIA in 1989. BCBGMAXAZRIA is named for the French phrase "bon chic, bon genre," a Parisian slang meaning "good style, good class".

Continuously expanding while defining trends, Max Azria has let the industry know that he is indeed building a global empire.

Founded in 1989, BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP is the lifetime vision of one man: Founder, Designer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Max Azria. In 1981, after eleven years of designing a line of women's wear in his native Paris, Azria moved to the United States and launched Jess, a series of new-concept retail boutiques offering hip French fashion to American women.

Key to BCBGMAXAZRIA's success has been Azria's ability to maintain his creativity while maximizing his keen business sense. As one of today's rare breed of designer-businessmen, Azria used his talent to create a new platform in the industry. With the launch of the BCBGMAXAZRIA brand, he redefined the designer category by offering innovative, high-quality clothing at contemporary price points. As a result, Azria was inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 1998.

 Awards and honors
 Azria has received many awards throughout his career such as the Wells Fargo Century Fashion Achievement Award at the 2007 L.A. Fashion Awards and the 2008 Fashion Excellence Award at the 33rd Annual Dallas Fashion Awards. He received the latter in recognition of the successful relaunch of his Hervé Léger brand.

Go Back to Home Page