Rick Owens

Early Life

Raised in a conservative Catholic household in Porterville, California, with a Mexican mother and father who passed away in 2015. Owens studied art at Otis College of Art and Design for two years before dropping out, then took pattern-making and draping courses at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, leading to work in the garment industry copying designer clothing, which honed his skills in draping and unconventional materials.

Breakthrough Moment

In 2002, Owens’ debut runway show 'Sparrows' in New York, sponsored by Vogue after Kate Moss was photographed in one of his leather jackets, brought him global recognition. He was appointed artistic director of the French fur house Revillon from 2003 to 2006, further elevating his profile.

Signature Style

Dark, draped silhouettes with bias cuts, gothic influences, raw textures like leather and fur, muted color palettes, exaggerated proportions, and a blend of grunge, glamour, and unconventional materials, often incorporating gender-fluid and architectural elements.

Timeline

• Founded Rick Owens Brand

  1994-01-01

  Launched his eponymous label in Los Angeles, focusing on draped, minimalistic designs sold from a Hollywood Boulevard store.

• First New York Runway Show

  2002-02-01

  Debuted 'Sparrows' collection at New York Fashion Week, sponsored by Vogue, marking his rise to prominence.

• Relocated to Paris and Appointed at Revillon

  2003-01-01

  Moved operations to Paris and became artistic director of Revillon fur house until 2006.

• Established Owenscorp

  2004-01-01

  Formed the company with Michèle Lamy to manage brand operations and expansions.

• Launched Furniture Line

  2005-01-01

  Introduced sculptural furniture inspired by his fashion philosophy, blending minimalism and raw materials.

• CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award and Retrospective

  2017-01-01

  Received the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award and opened 'Subhuman Inhuman Superhuman' retrospective at Triennale di Milano.

• CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year

  2019-01-01

  Won the award and published books on designer Larry LeGaspi.

• Moncler Collaboration: Portable Mountain Cabin

  2024-11-01

  Partnered with Moncler to create a functional, design-inspired portable cabin.

• Retrospective Exhibition and OnlyFans Launch

  2025-01-01

  Opened 'Temple of Love' retrospective at Palais Galliera; launched personal OnlyFans account in June.

Major Contributions

• Popularizing the 'glunge' (glamour meets grunge) aesthetic.
• Elevating avant-garde fashion with architectural, gender-fluid, and inclusive designs.
• Expanding his brand to include furniture design, art installations, and multiple sub-labels like DRKSHDW and RICKOWENSLILIES.
• Authoring books such as 'Rick Owens' (2011), 'Rick Owens Furniture' (2017), and books on Larry LeGaspi (2019).
• Winning awards including the 2002 CFDA Perry Ellis Award for Emerging Talent, 2007 Fashion Group International Rule Breaker Award, 2017 CFDA Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, and 2019 CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year.

Brand Evolution

Founded in 1994 in Los Angeles, Rick Owens’ brand evolved from cult-following grunge aesthetics to a global luxury powerhouse under Owenscorp (established 2004), with sub-labels, furniture lines starting in 2005, and collaborations including Birkenstock (2018), Veja (2019-2021), Moncler (2020, including a portable mountain cabin in 2024), Champion (2020), Dr. Martens (2021), and Converse (2021). Reported $120 million revenue in 2016, remaining independent.

Personal Life

Owens, who identifies as bisexual, lives in Paris with his wife and muse, Michèle Lamy, whom he married in 2006 and who co-manages Owenscorp. In June 2025, he launched an OnlyFans account sharing personal content, including feet photos.

Cultural Impact

Rick Owens has built a loyal cult following, reshaped fashion’s relationship with minimalism, gothic aesthetics, architectural design, and inclusivity, influencing subcultures and connecting with soul music and subversive sensibilities. His work promotes diverse body representation and has inspired art exhibitions and retrospectives.

Quotes

• "I try to make clothes the way Lou Reed wrote songs. It’s about the attitude of cool." ~ Rick Owens
• "I’m inspired by something that’s brutal but still has a vulnerability to it." ~ Rick Owens
• "Asking a gypsy to organize a war with a fascist.” (describing his business partnership with Michèle Lamy)" ~ Rick Owens
• "For me, as a teenager growing up in Porterville, California, what Larry LeGaspi did was a huge thing—the way he infiltrated middle America with this subversive sensibility." ~ Rick Owens

Trivia

• Rick Owens is often referred to as the 'Lord of Darkness' due to his gothic-inspired aesthetic.
• He designed furniture that mirrors his fashion philosophy—sculptural, minimalist, and raw, starting with inspirations from Eileen Gray and Brâncuși.
• His Spring/Summer 2016 collection featured models bound to and carrying other models, symbolizing human connection.
• Owens' designs have influenced pop culture, appearing in music and film, and he has a strong connection to soul culture and music.

Key Collections