Born in Brooklyn
1968: Alexis Bittar was born in Brooklyn, NY to Bob and Helen Bittar, both university professors and antique collectors.
1978: Alexis sets out on his first entrepreneurial venture – selling flowers from a hand painted cart.
1983: While attending high school Bittar discovers the NYC club scene. His interest rapidly turns to fashion and design when his attendance at seminal night clubs Danceteria and Area become more frequent than his classes at school.
1990: At age 22, Alexis decides to focus on designing his own line of costume jewelry. He begins carving his Lucite collection from his one bedroom apartment.
1992: Alexis is discovered by Dawn Mello, fashion director of Bergdorf Goodman, who offers the budding designer his first steps into the world of retail.
1994: He begins to sell internationally through Harrods in London and Isetan in Japan.
1998: He designs Burberry’s first ready-to-wear jewelry collection, interpreting their signature plaid onto Lucite.
2002: Alexis collaborates with the stylist and costume designer Patricia Field, creating custom designs for the character of HBO’s ‘Sex and the City’.
2004: He celebrates the grand opening of his first boutique, located just two blocks from where he first began selling his wares on the street a decade earlier. Later in the year, he is named the “Rising Star of the Year” by the prestigious Accessories Council of Excellence (ACE).
2008: His designs appear on the September cover of French Vogue styled by fashion editor Carine Roitfeld.
2009: For New York Fashion Week, Alexis collaborates with Michael Kors for his Spring 2010 ready-to-wear collections.
2010: 80s icon, Joan Collins appears as the face of Alexis’s 2010 campaign.
He is awarded the CFDA’s ‘Accessory Designer of the Year’ award.
Bittar becomes former First Lady Michelle Obama’s newest fashion fixation.
2011: Fashion icon Lauren Hutton is the new face for the brand’s 2011 ad campaign photographed by artist and photographer Jack Pierson.
2012: Comedy Duo Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley star in Alexis’s latest campaign dressed as their infamous characters, Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone from the hit British show ‘Absolutely Fabulous’.
He collaborates for the first time with designer Jeremy Scott for his fall/winter 2013 runway show.
Alexis enters into a partnership with the private equity company TSG Consumer Partners.
2015: Fashion eccentric Iris Apfel, and teen blogger turned actor, Tavi Gevinson star in the spring campaign highlighting the essence of strong women. For the fall campaign, Alexis taps Zoe Kravitz, showcasing the stars distinct style.
Bittar and TSG Consumer Partners sell the brand to American heritage brand, Brooks Brothers.
Alexis makes a full exit from the brand to focus on raising his children and pursue his philanthropic interests.
2020: After a 5 year absence, Alexis Bittar reacquires the brand after Brooks Brothers files for bankruptcy.
2021: Alexis Bittar relaunches his namesake brand, including 4 boutiques in New York City and 1 in San Francisco, designed by Tony award winning scenic designer Scott Pask.
Bittar adds handbags to his collections, inspired by his singularly crafted jewelry featuring his signature sculptural metalwork as hardware.
2023: Bittar weds his partner Jack Miner. Bittar receives his fourth Accessories Council of Excellence, ACE Award and first Museum of Art & Design Award, both accolades mark his welcome return to the Industry. Bittar conceives and releases his first ‘Bittarverse' skits, a trailblazing marketing move by the designer. Building on his historically arresting ad campaigns, Bittar fearlessly tackles diversity, inclusivity and ageism with humor in this creative new format. The Bittarverse is an ongoing bitesized campaign with underlying narratives and cameo appearances, heroing its characters Margeaux and Jules (aka Hazel). Drawing on personal experiences, Bittar delivers these irreverent love letters to Bittar’s home city, New York, and the weird and wonderful people that inhabit it.
2024: The ongoing Bittarverse campaign receives a Webby Award for 'Best Social Content', Susan Sarandon and Law Roach join the ever-growing A-list cast of New York centric cameo appearances. At the 2024 Met Gala, musician Tyla chooses to accessorize her Balmain sand dress with Bittar’s Solanales Crystal Collar.
