Derek Lam

Derek Lam, a native of San Francisco, began his fashion career in 1990 after graduating from Parsons School of Design. Lam spent twelve years at the highest levels of American fashion as a designer at Michael Kors before starting his own label. Derek Lam International, LLC was founded in New York by Derek Lam and partner Jan-Hendrik Schlottmann in 2003. The same year the label debuted at New York Fashion Week. In 2006 Derek Lam was named Creative Director for the Italian luxury brand Tod’s, designing their ready-to-wear and accessories collections in addition to his own line. In In 2011, capitalizing on the strength of the main collection while adding a downtown element, the company launched the more accessible Derek Lam 10 Crosby line which quickly became a success in the contemporary market.