Joseph Altuzarra '05 Makes
It Work at NYC Fashion Week

by Maki Somosot '12
2/15/2010

In a recent review of Altuzarra's new collection, the New York Times described the "sexy fierceness" of his clothes as "incredibly appealing."

Up-and-coming fashion designer Joseph Altuzarra '05 is currently showing his Fall 2010 collection at New York Fashion Week. In a recent review of the collection, the New York Times described the "sexy fierceness" of his clothes as "incredibly appealing."

A rising upstart in the fashion industry, Altuzarra has been recognized by the New York Times Magazine as one of New York's "next generation" of young designers, alongside recently established names like Prabal Gurung, Alexander Wang, and Thakoon Panichgul. Altuzarra's collections have received much acclaim for their hard feminine aesthetic, featuring body-conscious silhouettes and unique, streamlined patchwork techniques. His work is an homage to female strength and resilience. "I like women who don't apologize, women with a point of view," Altuzarra said in a recent interview. His Fall 2010 collection prominently uses materials such as black goat hair, wool and leather, amidst a dominant color palette of black, flesh, and deep red.

Born and raised in Paris, 25-year-old Altuzarra is the son of an American expatriate mother and a French father. He graduated from Swarthmore (where he ran track) with a major in art and art history before entering into a six-month-long internship at Marc Jacobs. He has assisted notable designers such as Proenza Schouler and Ricardo Tisci of Givenchy. Both French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld and supermodel Hana Soukupova have praised Altuzarra's work. Ikram, the Chicago fashion boutique frequented by Michelle Obama, will be featuring Altuzarra's designs in the coming fall.