Michael Bastian

Michael Bastian
Born (1965-10-13) 13 October 1965 (age 59)
Lyons, New York, United States
NationalityAmerican
EducationBabson College (B.A.)
Labels
  • Michael Bastian
  • GANT by Michael Bastian
  • Michael Bastian for Randolph Engineering
  • Havaianas + Michael Bastian
  • Stubbs & Wootton by Michael Bastian
SpouseMichael Vasquez (married 2017 - present)
AwardsSee accolades

Michael Bastian (born October 13, 1965), is an American fashion designer known for his work at Brooks Brothers, GANT, and his eponymous brand. He was the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year in 2011. As of December 2020, Bastian is the creative director of Brooks Brothers.[1]

Early life and education

Bastian was born in 1965[2] in Lyons, New York. In 2010, he told The Daily Front Row that he grew up with a rifle, working at a Jamesway in the sporting-goods department selling ammo.[3] He graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Career

After college, Bastian moved to New York City, where his first job was as an assistant buyer at Abraham & Strauss. This was followed by positions within Sotheby's, Tiffany & Co., Polo Ralph Lauren, and most recently, Bergdorf Goodman, where he was the men's fashion director for five years. It was this experience that led him to launch in 2006 his own menswear line. It was produced under a licensing agreement with Italian cashmere label Brunello Cucinelli.[4] The agreement was terminated at the end of 2010.

In 2010, a collaboration with GANT was launched. The line, "GANT by Michael Bastian", has since expanded to include womenswear. The collection is distributed in over 60 countries worldwide, in both GANT stores and independent retailers.

The next year, Bastian launched two new collaborations: with Randolph Engineering under the name Michael Bastian for Randolph Engineering, and with Brazilian brand Havaianas. He created a collection of 15 variations on current and vintage Randolph Engineering models for the label. For Havaianas, Bastian created four limited edition styles under the name "Havaianas + Michael Bastian".[5]

In 2013, Bastian was again nominated for CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year, but the award eventually went to Thom Browne.

On December 1, 2020, Bastian was introduced as the creative director of American label Brooks Brothers.[6]

Accolades

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2008 Michael Bastian CFDA Fashion Awards: Menswear Designer of the Year Nominated
2009 CFDA Fashion Awards: Menswear Designer of the Year Nominated
2010 CFDA Fashion Awards: Menswear Designer of the Year Nominated
2011 CFDA Fashion Awards: Menswear Designer of the Year Won
2012 GMHC Fashion Forward: Style Vault Award Won
2013 CFDA Fashion Awards: Menswear Designer of the Year Nominated

Personal life

Bastian and his husband are residents of New York City.[7] Although he knows how to operate a handgun, he has expressed he has never fired one.[3]

References

  1. ^ Tashjian, Rachel. "Does Brooks Brothers Really Need to Be Reinvented?". GQ. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "Michael Bastian". Askmen. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  3. ^ a b Emily Popp, "Shooting Lessons with Michael Bastian: Number 1 with a Bullet," The Daily Front Row, Sept. 10, 2011
  4. ^ "Making Waves". DNR. 23 January 2006.
  5. ^ "Michael Bastian Has a Right to Exist". Esquire. 15 February 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ Michael Bastian Joins Brooks Brothers as Creative Director, Zac Posen Exits Chantal Fernandez, Business of Fashion, 1 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Michael Bastian: Biography". Michael Bastian NYC. Retrieved 17 March 2011.