Geoffrey Beene

Geoffrey Beene (August 30, 1924 – September 28, 2004) was an American fashion designer.

Early life and education

Beene was born in Haynesville in Claiborne Parish in north Louisiana just south of the Arkansas state line. He studied medicine at Tulane University in New Orleans but dropped out in 1946, after three years of study. He moved to New York City in 1947 to attend the Traphagen School of Fashion. He then worked at a number of fashion houses, both in Paris and New York, including Harmay and Teal Traina.

Career

In 1963 he started his own company, Geoffrey Beene, Inc., with a showroom located on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan. His clients included such notables as Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Nancy Reagan, Faye Dunaway and Glenn Close.

He was known as both an innovator and a teacher. Several of his former apprentices, Kay Unger, Alber Elbaz and Doo Ri Chung are now successful fashion designers, thanks to his early guidance in their respective careers.

Death

Beene died on September 28, 2004, due to complications (pneumonia) from cancer at age 80. His career in fashion design spanned over 40 years.

Legacy

In honor of Beene’s fashion legacy, the Council of Fashion Designers of America created the annual Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award, which was presented in 2009 to the influential designer, Anna Sui.

The Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum in Homer, the seat of Claiborne Parish, has an exhibit on Beene.

Charitable activities

All net profits from Geoffrey Beene products are donated to philanthropic causes, such as cancer research, Alzheimer's research, domestic violence prevention and response, Save the Children, and educational programs, including scholarships for students majoring in fashion and related disciplines.

External links

• Official Company Site
• Geoffrey Beene at the Fashion Model Directory
• Sewing patterns by Geoffrey Beene