Background
Rodriguez is the eldest child and only son of Cuban parents. His father, Narciso Rodríguez II, a longshoreman, and Rawedia María Rodríguez, are of Canarian descent. He grew up in Newark, New Jersey.
Rodriguez is the eldest child and only son of Cuban parents. His father, Narciso Rodríguez II, a longshoreman, and Rawedia María Rodríguez, are of Canarian descent. He grew up in Newark, New Jersey.
"Number" wasn’t an option." He was educated at the New School in New York, studying at their art and design college, Parsons The New School for Design. Graduated Street Cecilias high school 1979 small catholic school in Kearny nj.
So when I dared to tell them, the shit hit the fan. lieutenant was crazy. But no matter how many times I heard "Number," I just kept going. I never thought about "no".
Following freelance work in New York’s garment industry, he joined Anne Klein as Women's Design Director under Donna Karan.
Later, he moved to Calvin Klein where he worked on the Women's Collection. In 1997 he launched his own label.
His first major attention came when he designed the wedding dress of fellow Calvin Klein employee Carolyn Bessette for her wedding to John F. Kennedy, Junior. However, by 2006, Rodriguez, who had ended his partnership with his label"s manufacturer, Aeffe, was over United States$1 million in debt to his suppliers, and needed fabric donations for his spring collection.
His clients include Salma Hayek, Anna Paquin, Claire Danes, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel Weisz, and Sonia Braga.
On May 5, 2007, Liz Claiborne acquired a 50% interest in the Narciso Rodriguez label. In 2008 Narciso Rodriguez bought the 50% interest back from Liz Claiborne for 12 million dollars. In 2003 Rodriguez introduced a women"s perfume with Shiseido"s Beauté Prestige International division called, "Foreign Her".
His men"s fragrance, "Foreign Him", launched in July 2007.
The dress, originally unveiled at New York City"s Fashion Week in September 2008, came from Rodriguez"s "stress-relief" design collection. Rodriguez was a strong supporter in the fashion world of Barack Obama"s campaign.
In August 2008, he blamed a slowdown in his business on "this Bush mess".