Zac Posen Closes Namesake Label
Graphic by Angela Cheng. Image via Getty Images
It seems that Zac Posen, the coveted designer who was once deemed the wunderkind of fashion, has lost his luster. On Nov. 1, Posen announced that his namesake label was to immediately close its doors.
The brand’s majority owner Ron Burkle is one of many investors who is said to have lost faith in the label. Burkle had been trying to sell his share of the company since April, but his efforts were of little avail. Essentially, Posen ran out of time.
Image via Vogue
In a statement, Posen said he was “disappointed that these efforts have not been successful and deeply saddened that the journey of nearly 20 years has come to an end.” He later called the decision “horrible” and “surreal.” All 60 of his employees were let go, and zacposen.com now links to an empty domain.
Image via Zimbio
Posen first emerged onto the fashion scene at just 21, when he was working out of his parents’ home with an allowance of only $15 a day. He later served as a judge on “Project Runway” for 6 seasons alongside Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, but he is best known for his statement red carpet gowns.
Celebrities like Rihanna, Natalie Portman, Beyoncé, Reese Witherspoon, and Naomi Campbell have all adorned some of Posen’s most famous gowns. His dresses often play with the mermaid silhouette, and feature bright colors and textured fabrics.
Image via Glamour
After Posen announced that his brand would close, he took to Instagram to thank his team: “I am grateful to the team who lent their incomparable talent and commitment along the way. I remain incredibly proud of what we created and hopeful for the future,” he said in the post.
48.9k Likes, 0 Comments - Zac Posen (@zacposen) on Instagram: "I want to express my appreciation to our extraordinary team and for all those who have stood by me..."
What Posen has in store for this future, however, remains unclear.
In Posen’s statement, he said he needs time “to reflect and regroup.” He is looking for a new way to share his creativity with the world, and only time will tell what he does next.