- Bijan (designer)
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Bijan Pakzad Born 4 April 1944
Tehran, IranDied 16 April 2011
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.Residence Beverly Hills, California Nationality Iranian Occupation Designer Known for Designing men's clothing, men's and women's fragrances Awards FiFi Most Successful Men's Fragrance 1988
FiFi Best Women's Fragrance Package 1988
FiFi Men's Fragrance Star of the Year Specialty/ Department Stores 1997
FiFi Best National Advertising Campaign – Men's 1997
1995 Ig Nobel Chemistry Prize
2010 Otis College of Art and Design Otis Design Legend Award
2011 Oxford University "Entrepreneur of the Year"Labels Bijan Bijan Pakzad (English pronunciation: /biˌʒæn ˈpɑːkzɑːd/; Persian: بیژن پاکزاد), generally known simply as bijan (4 April 1940[1][2][3] or 1944 – 16 April 2011),[4] was an Iranian designer of menswear and fragrances.
Contents
Personal history
Born in Tehran, Iran, Bijan migrated to Los Angeles in 1973. His exclusive boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills was established in 1976. It has been described as "the most expensive store in the world".[5]
Bijan's main residence was in Beverly Hills, California, but he was also known to own residences in New York and Malibu, as well as Milan and Florence, Italy. Up until the time of his death, Bijan was one of few Iranians in the media limelight who were still permitted to enter Iran.[citation needed]
Bijan was also known for his automobiles. Most notable in his car collection was a yellow Bentley Azure with black interior, as well as a Black Bentley Azure with yellow interior. He was also known to have a black Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren with a customized paint scheme, a yellow Ferrari 430 Spider, a yellow Rolls Royce Drophead coupe, and a Bugatti Veyron, all of which he was known to park outside of his Rodeo Drive boutique.
In the late 1980s Bijan designed a golden Colt revolver. The gun had a leather handgrip fashioned for a .38-cal. Colt revolver inlaid in the cylinder was 56 grams of 24-karat gold, the gun was placed in a mink pouch in a Baccarat crystal case embossed with the customer's name. Bijan's own signature is engraved in gold on the barrel of the gun. Only 200 such guns were made. In 2005, one of these guns sold to Jacob Nahamia at Christie's auction house for over $50,000 USD.
In 2000 Bijan courted controversy when an advertisement featuring a "rotund [nude] model named Bella"[6] and himself was at first rejected by New York magazines before it was accepted by Tina Brown's Talk magazine.[7]
Death
On April 14, 2011, Bijan suffered a stroke and was immediately rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.[8] He had brain surgery[4] but never recovered and he died two days later on April 16, 2011 at 8:05 am. He was 67 years-old.[4]
Business
Bijan dressed some of the world's most powerful men: President of the United States Barack Obama, former President of the United States George W. Bush, former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, American actor Tom Cruise, German TV host Thomas Gottschalk, British actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, U.S. Senator John Kerry, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair, Michael Jordan, Paul Allen, Jay Leno, Giorgio Armani, Usher, Carlos Slim Helu, Steve Wynn, Oscar de la Renta, Thomas Bodin, Tom Ford, Shahram Nazeri, Former Beverly Hills Mayor Jimmy Delshad, Footballer Saba Shakeri, U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Lerad Dumani have all been dressed by Bijan.
Bijan's fragrances for both men and women are known for their distinctive circular glass flacon with an open center and a dividing web. When half full, the fragrance fills two separate chambers, seemingly defying the law of gravity that liquid seeks its own level. One of these perfume bottles is featured in the permanent exhibit of the Smithsonian Institution.[citation needed]
According to the 2001 Los Angeles Times Calendar Section, the Bijan Perfume and Fashion Business has brought in an estimated $4 billion in sales worldwide.
Family
Bijan's legacy continues with his three children and with his grandson. His first-born, Daniela Pakzad worked closely with her Father throughout his illustrious career. She is Art Director at the House of Bijan. Bijan's only grandchild Anthony, is currently studying Business Administration at Boston University. Alexandra and Nicolas Bijan Pakzad are his children from his second marriage. His daughter Alexandra is a student at UCLA School of Law and works as a fashion model. His son Nicolas also works for Bijan Designer for Men. Nicolas attends Pepperdine University. In a 2009 interview with Signature Magazine, Bijan stated that his passion in life was his three children and his two dogs.
References
- ^ "Bijan Pakzad Obituary: The Obituary and Death Notice of Bijan Pakzad". Legacy.com. http://www.legacy.com/ns/obituary.aspx?n=Bijan-Pakzad&pid=150400589&ua=lfRQj9v9V1%2B4e3ofGjT4CQ%3D%3D. Retrieved 6 May 2011. "The Times says family members put his age at 67 but public records list it as 71."
- ^ GHASEMILEE, SARA (19 April 2011). "'Most expensive' designer dies". Al Arabiya. http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/04/19/145997.html. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ Wilson, Eric (April 18, 2011). "Bijan Pakzad, Designer of High Fashion, Dies at 71". The New York Times: p. B19. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/19/business/19pakzad.html?_r=1. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ a b c Parisa Michelle, "Bijan Pakzad Dead at 67", CelebMagnet, April 16, 2011
- ^ Richard A. Wright, "Mercedes Rides to Rescue of Rodeo Drive Concours", Detroit News, June 30, 2003
- ^ Bella ads (contains nudity) Retrieved July 21, 2011
- ^ Hamilton Spectator, "The skinny on Bijan's fat lady ads", by Barbara Thomas, February 17, 2000
- ^ Reporter, Staff. "بیژن پاکزاد، طراح مشهور ایرانی درگذشت". Kalam TV. Kalam TV. http://www.kalam.tv/fa/video/71194/index.html. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
- Other sources
External links
Categories:- 1940s births
- 2011 deaths
- Roseens
- Iranian fashion designers
- People from Tehran
- American people of Iranian descent
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