The United States of Fashion Designer Elie Tahari

Synopsis

Fashion Designer and Mogul Elie Tahari, has been living the American Dream for more than 50 years. He came to New York in 1971 with less than $100 in his pocket, slept on benches in Central Park, and went on to build a billion-dollar fashion empire.

There are thousands of fashion companies worldwide, but only three have lasted for being more than 45 years globally and are still run by their founders: Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, and Elie Tahari...

"The United States of Elie Tahari" is the first documentary ever produced about Elie Tahari, filmed during 2020. Directed & Produced by David Serero, this highly anticipated documentary tells the life of Elie Tahari from his birth and origins (born in Israel with Iranian parents) throughout all of his achievements and legacy. Part of the documentary is also dedicated to Tahari’s creative process and endurance in the fashion world. Several fashion personalities such as Fern Mallis (aka the Godmother of Fashion), Fashion designers Nicole Miller and Dennis Basso, Melissa Rivers (daughter of comedian Joan Rivers), Arthur S. Levine, WallStreet Journal Fashion Journalist Teri Agins, Instagram influencer Julia Kananovich, artist Lynna Davis, Disco music, models, Studio 54 and more, are part of this documentary, from which the trailer is released today.

"In this documentary, you’ll discover the whole inspiring story of Elie Tahari and his fashion world and process, as rarely shown before. David Serero added, "I want this film to be loved by fashion lovers and connoisseurs, as well as the ones who are not familiar with that important artistic environment. This documentary is educative, inspiring, and a celebration! You’ll feel joining a large party! said Serero. Elie Tahari is the definition of courage, determination, kindness, and…chutzpah! His parents fled Iran and moved to Israel, where he lived in a refugee camp Ma’Abarot’, then moved to New York without speaking English and has contributed to the New York fashion life for more than 40 years with his iconic and visionary signatures such as the Tube Top, the Woman Suit and more."

The Official Trailer of "The United States of Elie Tahari" is available here: https://vimeo.com/556977381

About ELIE TAHARI
For more than 40 years, Elie Tahari's keen understanding of fashion and design has ensured him a unique position in the luxury world. The internationally-renowned brand has a global presence on five continents and is sold in over 600 stores in over 40 countries. The brand has expanded to include women's shoes, sunglasses and accessories, and menswear and has come to define modern sophistication with the designers inspired collections of understated grace and elegance.

At the start of the 1970s, Elie Tahari emigrated from Israel to the United States and began working in New York City's garment center while moonlighting at a boutique in Greenwich Village. After he succeeded in popularizing the tube top, Tahari began designing his eponymous label Tahari in 1973. In the following years, Elie Tahari opened his first boutique on Madison Avenue, posted the company's first billboard in New York City, and held his first fashion show at Studio 54.

In the 1980s, Tahari expanded in the eighties, turning his attention to the tailored suit that helped define a decade. His first advertisements appeared in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.

In 1989 his first shop in Bloomingdales NYC opened, followed by Saks Fifth Avenue, and Tahari was named one of Crain's most successful 40 under 40.

In the 1990s, Elie Tahari began the decade with his first cover of Women's Wear Daily featuring a Tahari wool suit highlighted as the season's trend and is admitted to the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The brand moves into new headquarters in the Grace building on West 42nd Street and is now carried by all major department stores. Tahari initiated a significant expansion campaign including licensing and international sales.

Television Networks also started to take notice of the brand with pieces from the collection being showcased on Ally McBeal, The X files and Will & Grace. Tahari was the featured designer in the annual Macy's Passport fashion show in Los Angeles, which helps to raise over 2 million dollars for AIDS research, and was invited to the White House to meet with President Clinton. In 1997 Tahari became the founding partner and creative director of Theory and designed his own label.

In 2002 the company name was changed from Tahari to Elie Tahari, and the designer purchased 510 Fifth Avenue, which became the brand's design center. Tahari opened freestanding boutiques in Soho, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Boston, East Hampton's Main Street, and Boca Raton, Florida.

The company continued its global expansion in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and opened freestanding boutiques in Istanbul, Turkey, and Dubai, as well as US boutiques in Newport Beach, California, Washington, D.C., Dallas, and a pop-up store at 510 5th Avenue, named The Vault as well as the E-commerce site elietahari.com. To mark the brand's 40th anniversary, Tahari created a capsule collection "Elie Tahari 1974," which featured updated silhouettes from the brands four decades in fashion.

Mayor Bloomberg proclaimed September 4th, 2013 "Elie Tahari Day," honoring his 40 years in business. Fashion Group International honored the designer with a Brand Vision award, and Tahari served as a guest judge on Project Runway All-Stars for three seasons. In 2014 the designer launched eyewear, home, and the Elie Tahari Sport collection and partnered with photographer Steven Klein to shoot the brand's ad campaigns.

In 2020, he received the Pomegranate Award from the New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival.