Best of 2008: Designers Branch Out
If you think you were busy this year, wait until you see how many designers expanded their businesses in 2008. Hint: It took me a crazy long time to round them all up. Majors like Diane von Furstenberg, Alexander Wang, and Stella McCartney added more to their plates, as did smaller brands such as Members Only and Paige Denim. From jewelry and shoes to entire contemporary lines, these companies did what they could to boom their business.
- Agent Provocateur dives into swimwear.
- Alexander Wang adds shoes to his diffusion line.
- Proenza Schouler expands its world to include handbags and footwear.
- Handbag designer Devi Kroell designs clothes.
- Banana Republic introduces its own line of sunglasses.
To see who else branched out this year, read more.
- Members Only launches denim collection.
- Seven For All Mankind delves into shoes.
- Vince goes from t-shirt line to contemporary wear.
- Adidas launches new sportswear.
- Prada introduces a limited-edition line of costume jewelry.
- Yigal Azrouel accessorizes his brand.
- Brian Reyes adds lingerie to his brand.
- St. John created a contemporary line.
- See By Chloe launches footwear.
- Rebecca Taylor adds shoes, bags, and jewels to her line.
- Matthew Williamson decks Pucci out with accessories.
- Vena Cava partners with Via Spiga to design shoes.
- Ella Moss dips into swimwear.
- John Galliano eyewear.
- Nicole Miller legwear.
- Juicy Couture slips into bed with innerwear collection.
- Thomas Pink makes room for the ladies.
- Maison Martin Margiela debuts a line of modern adornments.
- Alpinestars enters women's sportswear business.
- Hussein Chalayan steps it up with a collection of shoes.
- Sophia Kokosalaki ventures into the world of denim.
- Paige Denim starts a contemporary line.
- Karl Lagerfeld creates a handbag and luggage collection.
- Alber Elbaz creates Lanvin jeans and bridal collection.
- Marchesa creates a capsule collection of wedding gowns.
- John Galliano rounds out diffusion line with accessories.
- BCBG introduces BCBGeneration.
- Catherine Malandrino designs jewels.
- Botkier launches footwear line.
- Rachel Pally does swimwear.
- A.B.S. By Allen Schwartz steps into the jewelry world.
- Stella McCartney expands her business to include lingerie.
- Mulberry goes from bags to shoes.
- Diane von Furstenberg designs shoes.
- Betsey Johnson produces a full collection of outerwear.
