Joseph Altuzarra
Encyclopedia
Joseph Altuzarra is an American-based French fashion designer.
in Pennsylvania. He was an art history major who sent his résumé to Marc Jacobs
on a whim. He had a six-month internship at Marc Jacobs, and was a freelance design assistant for Proenza Schouler
and former assistant to New York’s premier modéliste Nicolas Caito
. Altuzarra returned to Paris to work at Givenchy
, though he struggled with his lack of formal training because all of the other people had gone to fashion school and he hadn't. At Givenchy, Altuzarra met Coline Choay, who left Givenchy as the international public relations manager to help him launch his own business back in New York. The Fall collection features Altuzarra's signature complex seaming and immaculately fitted pants, and has generated a buzz that's got "overnight sensation".
Biography
Born and raised in Paris, France, Altuzarra's father is French-Basque and mother is Chinese American. Altuzarra moved to the U.S. to study at Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
in Pennsylvania. He was an art history major who sent his résumé to Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs is an American fashion designer. He is the head designer for Marc Jacobs, as well as Marc by Marc Jacobs, a diffusion line, with more than 200 retail stores in 60 countries. He has been the creative director of the French design house Louis Vuitton since 1997...
on a whim. He had a six-month internship at Marc Jacobs, and was a freelance design assistant for Proenza Schouler
Proenza Schouler
Proenza Schouler is a New York based womenswear and accessories brand founded in 2002 by designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez. The duo met while studying at Parsons School of Design, collaborating on their senior thesis, which would eventually become their first collection as Proenza...
and former assistant to New York’s premier modéliste Nicolas Caito
Nicolas Caito
Nicolas Caito is a French patternmaker who works in New York City. According to Elle magazine, he is "New York's most in-demand patternmaker" and is often credited with increasing the level of technical craftsmanship in American fashion to a level formerly seen only in Milan and Paris.Caito was...
. Altuzarra returned to Paris to work at Givenchy
Givenchy
Givenchy is a French brand of clothing, accessories, perfumes and cosmetics with Parfums Givenchy.The house of Givenchy was founded in 1952 by designer Hubert de Givenchy and is a member of Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture et du Pret-a-Porter...
, though he struggled with his lack of formal training because all of the other people had gone to fashion school and he hadn't. At Givenchy, Altuzarra met Coline Choay, who left Givenchy as the international public relations manager to help him launch his own business back in New York. The Fall collection features Altuzarra's signature complex seaming and immaculately fitted pants, and has generated a buzz that's got "overnight sensation".