Alexis Bittar is the designer and CEO of the eponymous jewelry and lifestyle brand. He was credited for reviving the art costume jewelry movement in the 1990s.[1]
In 2010, Bittar won the CFDA Accessory Designer of the Year award.[2] In November 2014, he received the Brand of the year from The Accessories Council.[3]
Personal life
Bittar was born in 1968 in Brooklyn, New York City to Bob and Helen Bittar, both university professors and antique collectors.[1][4]
At age ten, Bittar began selling flowers from a hand-painted cart near his home in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn. As a teenager, he sold antique jewelry and vintage clothing on St. Mark's Street in New York City.[5] Once, as a birthday present, Bittar's parents purchased him $300.00 worth of vintage jewelry that he then used as the seedlings of his nascent commercial operation.[6] Bittar discovered the New York club scene while attending the Bronx High School of Science, which fueled his interest in fashion and design.[7]
Bittar briefly attended State University of New York at Albany, but dropped out during his second semester. Bittar returned to New York and supported himself selling antique jewelry and vintage clothing on the streets of lower Manhattan.[8] Bittar closed the door on drugs and alcohol and got sober by the time he was 22.[9] He continued to pursue his interest in jewelry and design, focusing on his own line of costume jewelry influenced by the antique collectibles he grew up around.[8][7]
In 1988, Bittar began to design his own line of jewelry. He bought his first block of Lucite in 1990 and holed up in his apartment figuring out how to hand carve it into the jewelry vision he had.[4]
Using Lucite and semi-precious stones and metals, Bittar began selling handmade pieces on the streets of Soho. Dawn Mello, the fashion director of Bergdorf Goodman, discovered his work in 1992 and agreed to carry his designs, followed by Saks Fifth Avenue, the Museum of Modern Art, Harrods, and Isetan in Japan.[8][7][4]
In 2010, Bittar featured Joan Collins as the face of his Spring campaign.[15] Bittar wanted to mimic 80's fashion and believed Joan was perfect for this role considering she was the 1980s soap opera Queen.
Fashion icon Lauren Hutton was the face for the brand's 2011 ad campaign photographed by artist and photographer Jack Pierson.[16]
Bittar continued his focus on iconic women by casting the comedy Duo Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumely in the fall campaign dressed as their infamous characters, Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone from the hit British show 'Absolutely Fabulous'.[17]
In spring 2015, Bittar cast two of the industry's most well known names in his ads, 93-year-old fashion eccentric Iris Apfel, and Tavi Gevinson, the teen blogger turned rookie editor turn Broadway star- 19. The ads were meant to highlight the essence of strong women.[18]
In fall 2015, Zoe Kravitz fronts Bittar. The ad showcases Kravitz's style.[19]
After a five-year absence, Bittar reacquired the brand from Brooks Brothers after they filed for bankruptcy in fall of 2020.[22] Bittar is again full owner of his brand which relaunched in fall 2021 with expanded product categories including accessories and handbags.[23] Six new brick and mortar boutiques were opened in New York City and San Francisco in September and October 2021 designed by Tony award winning scenic designer, Scott Pask.[24]
Since reacquiring his namesake brand, Bittar's new collections have received global admiration. Bittar's signature bangle stacks graced the December 2022 cover of British Vogue, worn by supermodel Iman, styled by Kate Phelan[25]
In 2023 Bittar receives his fourth Accessories Council of Excellence, ACE Award and first Museum of Art & Design Award, MAD Awards, both accolades mark his welcome return to the Industry.
Later that year, Bittar conceives and releases his first ‘Bittarverse' skits, a trailblazing Marketing move by the Designer. Building on his historically arresting Ad Campaigns, Bittar fearlessly tackles diversity, inclusivity and ageism with humour in this creative new format.
The Bittarverse is an ongoing bitesized campaign with underlying narratives and cameo appearances, heroing its characters Theresa, Margeaux, Jules (and now Riley). Drawing on personal experiences, Bittar delivers these irreverent love letters to Bittar’s home city, New York, and the weird and wonderful people that inhabit it.