Cynthia Rowley was born in Illinois in the town of Barrington (today it is rather not a town, but a suburb of Chicago). In 1976 the girl graduated from Barrington High School, and in 1981 got her diploma in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A typical start, but not all of us will ever manage to achieve what Cynthia Rowley achieved after leaving her university.
In 1981 Cynthia Rowley launches her own business. Her only possessions at that time are $3,000, the “seed money” for the company, provided by one of her grandmothers. Several months pass – and the bold girl holds a fashion show right in her apartment. Every important fashion editor of New York is invited. Also Andy Warhol and a huge bunch of movie stars are on the list – though Cynthia knows none of them personally.
The company founded for granny’s money soon (in 1988) turns into Cynthia Rowley Collection, incorporated – a large step forward and a wide range of products that caused it. Cynthia Rowley produces not only women’s clothes, bags and shoes, but also eyewear, belts, dishes, legwear, hats, color cosmetics, and fragrance. Such a huge corporation needs to expand abroad, so Cynthia Rowley opens her shops not only in the USA (in New York, Chicago, East Hampton), but also in Asia (in Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan). Beijing and Shanghai shops are going to be opened in the nearest future. Also Cynthia Rowley Collection is available in a vast range of department stores all over the USA. And, finally, the company also has an on-line boutique, that enables it to sell more items internationally.
In 1994 Cynthia Rowley received Perry Ellis Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in the nomination New Fashion Talent and was also nominated as New Menswear Design Talent.
