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Born out of Smith's lifelong love of fashion, Milly is an iconic brand known for exquisite color and prints, luxurious fabrics and attention to detail. By combining her creativity with couture techniques and the highest quality fabrics, Smith creates beautiful, functional pieces that easily lend themselves to day or night, season after season.
Convinced from an early age that fashion design was her calling, Smith earned an art school scholarship to study fashion illustration, and later followed her passion to New York's Fashion Institute of Technology. With a keen interest in European fashion and luxury goods, Smith worked part time at the Hermes boutique in Manhattan and upon graduation from FIT, she boldly wrote to the President of Hermes requesting an internship at the Paris headquarters. Her request was granted, making Michelle Smith the first American employee sent to Paris by this legendary fashion house.
In Paris, Smith continued her studies at the prestigious design school ESMOD while also interning at Louis Vuitton, Torrente and Christian Dior Haute Couture. After three years, Smith returned home to New York, intent on establishing her own design business. Utilizing her unforgettable fashion experiences abroad, Smith created Milly, a brand that is synonymous with femininity and luxury, and relates to chic women everywhere.
Milly has continued to grow each season, receiving worldwide praise from retailers and customers alike. Celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham, Beyonce, and Thandie Newton are counted among Milly's loyal fans. The collection is now sold at the finest department and specialty stores worldwide, including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Selfridges and Barneys New York in Japan.
October 2008 marked the opening of Milly's first Shop at Harrods in London. The boutique, designed as a nod to a Parisian apartment with a wink of Manhattan style, features etched and faceted mirrors, vintage fixtures and Milly's signature pink. In March of 2009, the brand further expanded its global presence with the opening of a boutique in Tokyo, Japan. In September of 2009 Milly debuted its jewelry collection on the runway, featuring a mix of luxe materials including 18 karat gold plating, lucite, crystal and enamel. For spring 2011 Milly will debut its first collection of handbags, the collection shares the same attention to detail and colorful, sophisticated aesthetic as the ready to wear collection, offering unique pieces for chic women around the world.
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Last Updated: 4/5/2011
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