Geoffrey Mac (born March 24, 1977) is an American fashion designer.
Life and career
Mac attended the
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is a private art school associated with the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) in Chicago, Illinois. Tracing its history to an art students' cooperative founded in 1866, which grew into the museum and ...
,
where he earned his
BFA in 1999. It was in Chicago where the Geoffrey Mac brand was officially launched in 2002, selling to top retailers that included
Marshall Field
Marshall Field (August 18, 1834January 16, 1906) was an American entrepreneur and the founder of Marshall Field and Company, the Chicago-based department stores. His business was renowned for its then-exceptional level of quality and customer ...
's flagship store, who recognized Mac with the "Distinction in Design Award". It was, however, the
Patricia Field boutique in New York City that was first to place an order for his latex designs. His designs are featured in the book ''Generation Fetish'' (2001) by Lee Higgs and major publications.
In 2003, the
Fashion Group International The Fashion Group International (FGI) is a global, non-profit, professional organization founded in 1930 in New York City to benefit the fashion industry. FGI currently has over 5000 members in the fashion industry including apparel, accessories, b ...
selected Mac for the "Style Makers & Rule Breakers Award for Apparel". In 2004, he was further recognized in the
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
as the "Young Designer of the Year". One of his designs was acquired for the permanent collection of the
Chicago Historical Museum.
Mac moved to New York City in 2004, where he worked briefly with the prominent designer
Cynthia Rowley
Cynthia Rowley (born July 29, 1958) is an American fashion designer based in the Manhattan neighborhood of New York City.
Early life and education
Rowley is a native of Barrington, Illinois a northwestern suburb of Chicago. She is one of three ...
. It was not long before he established himself independently and developed a following for his show-stopping custom designs with celebrity clients such as
Deee-Lite
Deee-Lite was an American house and dance music group formed in New York City. The group's best-known single is "Groove Is in the Heart", which was released in 1990 from their debut studio album ''World Clique'' (1990), and was a top-ten hit in ...
, and
Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974), Those giving 1974 include:
*
*
*
*
* better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and reality television personality. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, she lived much of he ...
.
His work began to make its way on to world concert stages by consulting, pattern making and constructing for
Zaldy Goco,
an influential fashion designer, for high-profile clients such as
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...
for her
Monster Ball Tour
The Monster Ball Tour was the second worldwide concert tour by American singer Lady Gaga. Staged in support of her first EP, ''The Fame Monster'' (2009) and comprising a set list of songs from that and her debut studio album, ''The Fame'' (2008 ...
,
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters were an American pop rock band formed in 2001. Its members include Jake Shears and Ana Matronic as vocalists, Babydaddy as multi-instrumentalist, Del Marquis as lead guitar/bassist, and Randy Real (who replaced Paddy Boom) as dr ...
, and
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...
for her 2011
Femme Fatale Tour
The Femme Fatale Tour was the eighth concert tour by American entertainer Britney Spears. It was launched in support of her seventh studio album, ''Femme Fatale'' (2011). It was officially announced in March 2011, with dates for North American v ...
.
Mac was the subject of
America's Next Top Model
''America's Next Top Model'' (abbreviated ''ANTM'' and ''Top Model'') is an American reality television series and interactive competition in which a number of aspiring models compete for the title of "America's Next Top Model" and a chance to b ...
, Cycle 16 - Episode 4, the legendary "fire challenge". For this challenge, the contestants modeled his designs during a runway presentation which featured explosive pyrotechnics lining the catwalk. The episode aired on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 and also featured guest judge photographer/director
Francesco Carrozzini
Francesco Carrozzini (born September 9, 1982) is an Italian-born director and photographer based in the United States. In 2016, he made his feature directorial debut at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival with the documentary '' Franca: ...
.
Mac made his official
NYFW Runway debut on February 12, 2012 at the famous Exit Art venue.
The show featured wigs by long-time
Patricia Field stylist Codie Leone, a prominent New York-based transgender stylist and advocate. In recent years, Mac has developed an impressive portfolio for his custom designs working with a diverse range of clients such as
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann Harry (born Angela Trimble; July 1, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and actress, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Blondie. Four of her songs with the band reached on the US charts between 1979 and 1981.
Born in ...
,
Icona Pop
Icona Pop ( ) is a Swedish electropop duo which formed in 2009, with electro house and indie pop music influences. Its two members, Caroline Hjelt (born 8 November 1987) and Aino Jawo (born 7 July 1986), grew up in Stockholm and create what the ...
,
Neon Hitch
Neon Hitch (born 25 May 1986) is an English singer and songwriter. She was signed to Mike Skinner and Ted Mayhem's label, The Beats, before it closed down. She was later discovered on MySpace by Benny Blanco, who flew her to New York City to ...
, and
RuPaul's Drag Race
''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, VH1 (season 9–14) and, beginning with the f ...
winner
Sharon Needles
Sharon Needles (born November 28, 1981) is the stage name of Aaron R. Coady, an American drag performer and recording artist. A self-described "stupid genius, reviled sweetheart, and PBR princess", Needles rose to international attention on the ...
.
In March 2015, Mac was commissioned by
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct three-octave vocal range and eccentric persona, she has de ...
,
to create a series of custom latex and silk dresses for her
Vulnicura
''Vulnicura'' is the eighth studio album by Icelandic musician and singer Björk. It was produced by Björk, Arca and The Haxan Cloak, and released on 20 January 2015 by One Little Indian Records. Björk said the album expresses her feelings bef ...
NYC residency.
In 2015, he worked with renowned stylist
Arianne Phillips
Arianne Phillips (born April 26, 1963) is an American costume designer. Phillips was recognized for her work on the Broadway musical '' Hedwig and the Angry Inch'', starring Neil Patrick Harris, earning her a Tony award nomination for Best Cost ...
and
Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. is an American global entertainment company and monopoly that was founded in 2010 following the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. The company promotes, operates, and manages ticket sales for live entertainme ...
to create custom garments for
Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
's
Rebel Heart Tour
The Rebel Heart Tour was the tenth concert tour by American singer Madonna, staged in support of her thirteenth studio album, ''Rebel Heart'' (2015). Comprising 82 shows, the tour visited North America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. It began on S ...
. This included a series of latex bras worn by dancers in the "Holy Water"/
Vogue
Vogue may refer to:
Business
* ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine
** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine
** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine
** ''Vogue Australia'', an Australian fashion magazine
** ''Vogue China'', ...
section of the show. His sketch for this project was featured in WWD in September 2015.
Later he also collaborated with hip hop rapper
Cazwell
Luke Caswell, known mononomously as Cazwell, is an American rapper, record producer and songwriter. He has released the three studio albums '' Get Into It'' in 2006, '' Watch My Mouth'' in 2009 and ''Hard 2 B Fresh'' in 2014, along with videos an ...
on a range of form-fitting underwear, based on the colours used in the rapper's 'Ice Cream Truck' video.
He also he had previously worked with
Sharon Needles
Sharon Needles (born November 28, 1981) is the stage name of Aaron R. Coady, an American drag performer and recording artist. A self-described "stupid genius, reviled sweetheart, and PBR princess", Needles rose to international attention on the ...
on a range of T-shirts and shorts and leggings.
Mac is featured as a contestant on season 18 of ''Project Runway''. Having worked under a tight deadline throughout his career, the challenge of a televised contest show was not intimidating for him. Mac has always had a loyal cult following of celebrities and fashionistas. ''Project Runway'' has brought his original designs to a wider audience and introduced him to a whole new world. At first, Mac resisted contest shows but he now knows it was a great opportunity to grow his business and take his brand to the next level.
References
Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mac, Geoffrey
1977 births
American designers
Living people
Place of birth missing (living people)