In 1976, a relatively unknown dress designer, her textile veteran husband, a merchant and a production expert, founded a company

that would revolutionize the fashion industry from how women dress for work, to how it is sold into and at department stores to where

product is sourced. The partners, Liz Claiborne, Art Ortenberg, Leonard Boxer and Jerome Chazen each invested $50,000 in personal

savings and borrowed an additional $200,000 from friends and family to found what is today a nearly $5 billion public company.

Established at a time when women were entering the workforce in large numbers, Liz Claiborne and her partners saw the opportunity

to provide versatile, fashionable wardrobes that were appropriate for work, but still conveyed a sense of individuality and femininity.

A working woman herself, Liz understood how liberating it would be to mix and match separates rather than have to rely on the traditional

dress or gray flannel suit. Thus, out of a small office on 40th street in Manhattan, Liz Claiborne the brand was born, transforming the

way women dressed and ultimately, how they shopped.

The concept was simple: Provide the ensemble driven sportswear that had been available for many years at designer level prices through

the likes of Calvin Klein and Bill Blass, but make it affordable for the working woman.

Now, with a portfolio of more than 40 brands, Liz Claiborne Inc. creates fashion for everyone women and men, girls and boys, apparel

and non-apparel, modern and classic, career and casual. From Main Street to the mall, department stores to specialty stores, and luxury

retailers to discount retailers, our product reaches consumers wherever and whenever they shop.