Dennis Basso
Dennis Basso | |
---|---|
Photo by Peter Murdock | |
Residence | New York City |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Fashion designer |
Known for | Bold colors in fur |
Spouse(s) | Michael Cominotto |
Website | DennisBasso.com, QVC Platinum |
Labels | Dennis Basso, QVC Platinum |
Dennis Basso (Born 25 February 1954) is an American fashion designer of couture fur designs. His goal was to treat the fur material like a fluid fabric and he is known for using bold colouration and patterns. He later went on to make ready-to-wear collections for QVC using faux fur. All manufacturing is done in New York at Dennis Basso’s 40,000 square foot atelier in Long Island City.
Education
Dennis Basso attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. In 2013 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the State of New York Fashion Institute of Technology in recognition of his talent, vision, and business acumen.
Career
Dennis Basso started his career with a NY-area fur business managing sales and retail accounts. While successful, his great interest was design and he pursued an avid fur apprenticeship. He launched his own fur business in 1983 and, over thirty years, transformed it into a multinational luxury fur brand, inspired by pure glamour.
In 2002, Dennis Basso was inducted into the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America). Five years later, his first collection of ready-to-wear was presented at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. Inclusive of fur and evening wear to bridal and accessories, Dennis Basso has been hailed by both celebrity and private clients and are consistently featured in the media and at red carpet events worldwide. First Lady Michelle Obama, Helen Mirren, Gretchen Mol, Catherine Zeta Jones, Hayden Panettiere, Emmy Rossum, Angela Bassett, Mary J. Blige, Brooke Shields, Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour, Katie Couric, and Olivia Palermo are among the high profile women that have selected Dennis Basso evening gowns for A-list events.
In addition to a sleek four story flagship at 825 Madison Avenue, a landmark building, Dennis Basso collections have expanded globally, with in-store boutiques at Harrods, TSUM, and The Little Nell Hotel in Aspen.
At QVC, Dennis Basso created a major market in faux fur, offering affordable and sophisticated outerwear and accessories. With a consumer audience in the millions, the collection appears in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. In 2009, he received the QVC Ambassador Award.
Humanitarian Work
He sits on the boards of the Children’s Hearing Institute and the Boy’s Towns of Italy Foundation. Major supporter of the American Cancer Society, The G&P Foundation for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New Yorkers for Children, the Alzheimer’s Association, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Children’s Hearing Institute and the Boy’s Towns of Italy Foundation, which have presented him with Humanitarian Awards, and Connecticut-based Silver Hill Hospital, which awarded him the Spirit Achievement Award.
Personal life
Dennis Basso resides in New York City with his husband Michael Cominotto and their miniature schnauzer Lily.
References
- http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/designers/bios/dennisbasso/
- http://www.mbfashionweek.com/designers/dennis_basso
- http://www.qvc.com/dennisbasso
- http://cfda.com/members#!dennis-basso