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Eileen Fisher

Eileen Fisher

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.

Eileen Fisher
Eileen Fisher
Born(1950-06-06)June 6, 1950
ResidenceIrvington, New York, United States
EducationUniversity of Illinois
OccupationEntrepreneur and fashion designer
Known forFounding eponymous clothing company
ChildrenTwo
Type
Privately held company
IndustryRetail
GenreFashion
Founded1984 (1984)
FounderEileen Fisher
Headquarters
Irvington, New York
,
United States
Number of locations
56+
ProductsClothing
Number of employees
800+
Websiteeileenfisher.com [14]

Biography

Fisher grew up in Des Plaines, Illinois, the second of seven children. When Fisher decided to go to college, her father explained that the family 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." Fisher 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,[1] graduating in 1972.[2] Fisher then moved to New York City in 1973.[3][4] 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, Zackary and Sasha, and she lives in Irvington, New York.[5]

Company

Eileen Fisher Inc. is an American privately held company founded by Fisher in 1984 with $350 in startup money.[6] 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.[6] She opened her first retail store in 1986, on East 9th Street in Manhattan.

In 2002, the company earned $144 million in revenue, and $154 million in 2003.[6][7] Estimated revenue in 2015 grew to over $300 million.[8] 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.[7]

The company has over 1200 employees with over 56 retail stores in fifteen states. In 2011, the company expanded outside the U.S., opening its first Canadian store in Vancouver, British Columbia and then more stores in London, England, in October 2012.

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.[9][10]

See also

  • List of fashion designers

  • List of people from New York City

  • List of University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign people

  • List of New York companies

References

[1]
Citation Linkwww.inc.comWelch, Liz. "How I Did It". Inc.
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[2]
Citation Linkwww.bloomberg.combloomberg.com Executive Profile: Eileen Fisher
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[3]
Citation Linkmoney.cnn.comShambora, Jessica (September 18, 2011). "Eileen Fisher's Timeless Vision". Fortune. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[4]
Citation Linkwww.msmagazine.comBloom, Amy (December 2003). "Women of the Year 2003: Eileen Fisher". Ms. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[5]
Citation Linkwww.newyorker.comMalcolm, Janet (September 23, 2013). "Nobody's Looking at You". The New Yorker. New York City: Condé Nast. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[6]
Citation Linkmoney.cnn.comCaplin, Joan (July 1, 2004). "Eileen Fisher First, Suit Yourself". CNNMoney.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[7]
Citation Linkmoney.cnn.comPofeldt, Elaine (October 1, 2003). "The Nurturer Eileen Fisher/Eileen Fisher Inc". Fortune. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[8]
Citation Linkwww.huffingtonpost.comTenney, Matt (May 15, 2015). "Be a 'Don't Knower': One of Eileen Fisher's Secrets to Success". HuffPost Business. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[9]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgeileenfisher.com Sustainability Archived January 30, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[10]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgeileenfisher.com Supporting_Women Archived March 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[11]
Citation Linkwww.eileenfisher.comeileenfisher.com
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[12]
Citation Linkwww.fashionmodeldirectory.comEileen Fisher
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[13]
Citation Linkwww.npr.orgHow I Build This - Eileen Fisher: Eileen Fisher
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[14]
Citation Linkeileenfisher.comeileenfisher.com
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[15]
Citation Linkwww.inc.com"How I Did It"
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[16]
Citation Linkwww.bloomberg.comExecutive Profile: Eileen Fisher
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[17]
Citation Linkmoney.cnn.com"Eileen Fisher's Timeless Vision"
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[18]
Citation Linkwww.msmagazine.com"Women of the Year 2003: Eileen Fisher"
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[19]
Citation Linkwww.newyorker.com"Nobody's Looking at You"
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM
[20]
Citation Linkweb.archive.org"Eileen Fisher First, Suit Yourself"
Sep 30, 2019, 5:25 AM