Career
Tahari began working in New York City as an electrician in the Garment District. In 1973, Tahari helped popularize the tube top, which created the foundation for his entry into the fashion world.
In 1977, Tahari launched his namesake fashion label. His first fashion show was held at Studio 54 in New York City.[8] In 1979, he opened his first boutique on Madison Avenue.[9]
In the 1980s, Tahari turned his attention to the tailored suit, with more office-centric designs as women joined the workforce and the ranks of the business elite.
In 1989, he began selling his branded apparel to various luxury department stores, starting with Bloomingdale’s.[10]
He was admitted to the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 1994. In 1997, he teamed with Andrew Rosen to launch the ready-to-wear label Theory.[11]
In September 2003, Theory was sold to Link International for $100 million.[12]
The 2000s saw an expansion of his brand into men's ready-to-wear, accessories, jewelry, footwear and home goods. In 2012, Tahari was a guest judge on the Lifetime television series Project Runway All Stars.[13] He collaborated with Kohl's DesigNation in 2014[14] and launched ET Sport in 2015.[15]
In 2019, Elie Tahari (as a brand, including both direct and licensed products) reached $1 billion in sales volume.[10] The next year, the luxury department stores which he had collaborated with for thirty years were shuttered by the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] As a result, Tahari decided to close his namesake brand's wholesale division and switched to a direct-to-consumer retail model (focused on his own branded boutique and outlet stores) with a strong e-commerce component.[10]
In 2024, Elie Tahari celebrated the 50th anniversary of his brand.[16]
