Marc Jacobs Company History.

Nicknamed "The Guru of Grunge" by Women's Wear Daily after parading models down the catwalk in army boots and floral dresses, Jacobs has the uncanny ability to design exactly what the fashionistas want, when they want it. Arguably one of today's hippest designers, Jacobs met Perry Ellis at the age of 15, and learned how to knit from his grandmother when he was kid. A fashion school wunderkind, the New Yorker received highest honors from Parson's School of Design in NYC, and debuted his Marc Jacobs label in 1986.

Ellis later made Jacobs Vice President of women's design, where he would launch his infamous grunge-inspired look (a look too edgy for Perry Ellis, who laid him off in '92). In 1997 Jacobs developed Louis Vuitton's first ready-to-wear line, and in 2001 the Marc by Marc Jacobs line debuted to critical acclaim—and mass, urban appeal. Youthful and edgy, Jacobs' designs pair retro-inspired prints with contemporary cuts and unexpected accessories. His street cred was given an extra boost in 2001 when Winona Ryder dressed in his designs to her shoplifting trial (for allegedly pinching a few of his pieces from Saks Fifth Avenue). Jacobs returned the favor by featuring her in his spring/summer 2003 ad campaign.