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Eileen Fisher

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Eileen Fisher
Born (1950-06-06) June 6, 1950 (age 74)
EducationUniversity of Illinois
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur and fashion designer
Known forFounding eponymous clothing company
ChildrenTwo

Eileen Fisher (born June 6, 1950) is an American clothing designer and founder of the women's clothing brand Eileen Fisher, Inc. Fisher's designs are characterized by simplicity, and her company is known for using non-traditional models in its print advertisements, including its own employees.

Biography

Fisher grew up in Des Plaines, Illinois, the second of six children. When Fisher decided to go to college, her dad explained they could not contribute to her tuition because they needed to save their money to send her younger brother to college as 'he would need an education to support his family some day.' Eileen explained in an interview to Inc in 2013: "It didn't upset me -- it was the times. I never expected a penny from my parents. I paid my way through the University of Illinois working as a waitress." [1] She started as a math major before switching to interior design. Ms Fisher moved to New York City in 1973.[2][3] She worked as an interior designer and as a graphic artist before establishing her own fashion business inspired by style and longevity of the classic kimono. She has two children, Zack and Sasha, and lives in Irvington, New York.[4]

Company

Eileen Fisher
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryRetail
GenreFashion
Founded1984; 40 years ago (1984)
FounderEileen Fisher
Headquarters
Irvington, New York
,
United States
Number of locations
56+
ProductsClothing
Number of employees
800+
Websiteeileenfisher.com

Eileen Fisher Inc. is an American privately held company founded by Fisher in 1984 with just US$350.[5] Her first order at a New York clothing design show was for $3,000, which was followed three months later with $40,000 in additional sales.[5] She opened her first retail store in 1986, on East 9th Street in Manhattan.

In 2002, the company earned $144 million in revenue and in 2003 $154 million.[5][6] Estimated revenue in 2015 grew to over $300 million.[7] As of 2003, 35 percent of the company's clothing was manufactured in the United States while the rest was made in China in compliance with Social Accountability International's SA8000.[6]

The company has over 800 employees[when?] with over 56 retail stores in fifteen states.[3] In 2011, the company expanded outside the U.S., opening its first Canadian store in Vancouver, British Columbia and projecting the opening of two stores in London, England, in October 2012.[2]

Fisher's company emphasizes sustainability with 70% of the cotton used in its clothing sourced from organic cotton. In order to reduce fabric and fiber waste, the company started a recycling program. Customers donate their gently used Eileen Fisher Clothing in return for a $5 gift certificate per article. After dry cleaning, the garments are resold—with the income funding business grants for women and leadership programs for young women.[8][9]

See also

For the person
For the company

References

  1. ^ Welch, Liz. "How I Did It". Inc. Inc. Magazine.
  2. ^ a b Shambora, Jessica (September 18, 2011). "Eileen Fisher's Timeless Vision". Fortune. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Bloom, Amy (December 2003). "Women of the Year 2003: Eileen Fisher". Ms. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  4. ^ Malcolm, Janet (September 23, 2013). "Nobody's Looking at You". The New Yorker. New York City: Condé Nast. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Caplin, Joan (July 1, 2004). "Eileen Fisher First, Suit Yourself". CNNMoney.com. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  6. ^ a b Pofeldt, Elaine (October 1, 2003). "The Nurturer Eileen Fisher/Eileen Fisher Inc". Fortune. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  7. ^ Tenney, Matt (May 15, 2015). "Be a 'Don't Knower': One of Eileen Fisher's Secrets to Success". HuffPost Business. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  8. ^ http://www.eileenfisher.com/EileenFisherCompany/CompanyGeneralContentPages/SocialConciousness/Sustainability.jsp
  9. ^ http://www.eileenfisher.com/EileenFisherCompany/CompanyGeneralContentPages/SocialConciousness/Supporting_Women.jsp/
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