Richard Stark (born May 19, 1960) is an American fashion designer and the co-founder of luxury brand

Chrome Hearts Chrome Hearts is a luxury brand from Hollywood, founded in 1988 by Richard Stark, Leonard Kamhout and John Bowman. It is currently co-owned by Richard Stark and his wife Laurie Lynn Stark. Its logo contains a cross with the brand name around it ...

Early life

Richard Stark was born on May 19, 1960, in Utica, New York. He has a background in carpentry, receiving his training at a building company as a carpentry apprentice. Before founding Chrome Hearts, Stark represented tanneries and sold leather hides to manufacturers

Chrome Hearts

Early stages and founding (1988)

Stark started the business in a Los Angeles garage alongside Leonard Kamhout, a jeweler, and John Bowman, a manufacturer of leather goods. At the time, Stark was a premium leather dealer, sourcing materials while Bowman handled production. The trio made leather

motorcycle riding gear Motorcycle riding gear, or kit (UK English), is specialized clothing and equipment worn by motorcyclists. It usually serves multiple purpose at once, including crash injury protection, deflecting sun, precipitation or debris, keeping the rider war ...

for friends and members of the local motorcycle scene. Eventually, an unexpected gig doing costume design for a B movie, '' Chopper Chicks in Zombietown'', pushed the brand into the mainstream fashion sphere. One of the actors, a then-girlfriend of

Sex Pistols The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they were one of the most groundbreaking acts in the history of popular music. They were responsible for ...

lead guitarist

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, introduced Stark to the musician, who quickly became a fan, wearing Stark's designs on stage, while Stark named the brand after the film's working title, ''Chrome Hearts''. Other popular bands like

Motley Crüe Motley is the traditional costume of the court jester, the motley fool, or the arlecchino character in ''commedia dell'arte''. The harlequin wears a patchwork of red, green and blue diamonds that is still a fashion motif. The word ''motley'' i ...

and

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started wearing the Chrome Hearts' leather pieces and accessories as well and shortly thereafter, Stark opened up the first private store in LA's Skid Row.Genevieve Buck
Chrome Hearts: Leader Of The Pack
'' Chicago Tribune'', August 19, 1992

Establishment as brand and expansion

In 1992, the brand received critical acclaim and Stark was awarded the Council of Fashion Designers America (CFDA) prize for Best Accessories Designer. When told he could choose any celebrity to represent him, he and his wife chose

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. Eventually, Stark initially announced he had no intention of accepting the award, partly because he was unfamiliar with who the CFDA were. A 1999 article in the ''

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'' even referred to Stark as “the anti designer." Stark would explain to the ''Japan Times:''

“There’s no game being played for the fashion world. To me, Chrome Hearts has got nothing to do with the fashion world,” “We don’t have any seasons. I make things when I wanna make them because I wanna make them.”

In 1994, the trio of founders split and Stark bought his partners out of the business, with his wife Laurie Lynn assuming a more formal role. At the time, Chrome Hearts had expanded dramatically, well beyond leather goods. Jewelry, the largest source of revenue, became the main focus and Stark explored other avenues including furniture, home goods, and even custom work ranging from pool tables to private jet interiors. In 1996, Chrome Hearts' first boutique opened at 159 East 64th Street, Manhattan, New York City.

Personal life

Stark met his wife Laurie Lynn when she ordered a collection of leather swimsuits from him in the '90s. The couple have three children; Kristian, Frankie Belle, and Jesse Jo. Stark and his wife own seven multi-million dollar homes in Malibu, including a nearly-$40 million home on Paradise Cove. The designer is known for being press averse, rarely giving out interviews. He has stated that without his wife, "everything we do would be zero press”. He has always been a motorcycle enthusiast, claiming to have ridden his motorcycle through cemeteries while growing up in Utica.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stark, Richard Living people 1960 births