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 Harrod’s 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, Dennis Basso, and Michael Angel for their Spring 2010 ready-to-wear collections. Alexis’s designs appear on over 15 editorial covers including Time Magazine, Italian Vogue, and Harper’s Bazaar UK.
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 collaborates with ready-to-wear designer Jason Wu for his Spring/Summer 2011 runway show and 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 Lumely 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 Carolee LLC, the jewelry arm of the American heritage brand Brooks Brothers.
Alexis then leaves 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 as a lifestyle brand with expanded product categories including accessories and home décor.
In the fall, 5 boutiques in New York City and 1 in San Francisco open, designed by Tony award winning scenic designer Scott Pask.