Joseph Altuzarra


Joseph Altuzarra is a luxury women's ready-to-wear clothing designer. He launched his brand, Altuzarra, in New York in 2008. His brand is influenced by his multicultural upbringing and his international education in fashion. His design of a women's evening gown was featured on the runway of the 2019 Met Gala evening. Altuzarra was one of the judges in season 1 of Amazon's Making the Cut.

Biography

Born in 1983 in Paris, Altuzarra was raised by a Chinese-American mother and a French Basque father. As a boy he studied ballet for eight years. Joseph graduated from Swarthmore College with a B.A. in Art and Art History. Upon heading to New York, he interned at Marc Jacobs before his post at Proenza Schouler. Seeking to further enhance his technical construction skills, Joseph then apprenticed with patternmaker Nicolas Caïto, the former head of the Rochas atelier. Joseph later returned to Paris, working as first assistant to Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci.
Altuzarra was awarded the CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear Design in 2012 and the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award in 2011. His other awards include: Crain's New York Business 40 Under 40, Fashion Group International Rising Star of the Year, Out 100 Vanguard of the Year, Ecco Domani Award and Forbes 30 Under 30. In 2014, he was awarded the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year Award.
In 2019, his design of a women's all gold, full-length evening gown was worn by Awkwafina at the 2019 Met Gala whom he accompanied on the runway and entrance staircase on the evening of the event.

Awards

• 2014 CFDA Award
• 2013 Crain's New York Business 40 Under 40
• 2013 US Woolmark Prize Winner
• 2012 CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear Design
• 2012 Forbes 30 Under 30
• 2011 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award
• 2010 Out 100 Vanguard of the Year
• 2010 Fashion Group International Rising Star of the Year
• 2010 Ecco Domani Award

Timeline