Bill Blass
Bill Blass Group · United States
Bill Blass is an American fashion label created by the designer Bill Blass, who bought Maurice Rentner Ltd. in 1970 and renamed it Bill Blass Limited. The brand is controlled by the Bill Blass Group, and its current activity beyond licensing has not been verified for 2026.
| Company named | Bill Blass Limited, 1970 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Bill Blass |
| Controlled by | Bill Blass Group (Kim brothers since 2008, per Business of Fashion) |
| Segment | Luxury and designer houses |
| Founder died | 12 June 2002 |
| Licensing agency | The Brand Liaison (2019) |
What is Bill Blass?
Bill Blass is a heritage American fashion brand named after its founder, one of the leading American designers of the twentieth century. It has been run for many years as a licensed brand, with the Bill Blass Group leading licensing and retail programmes.
History
Blass joined Maurice Rentner Ltd. in 1959. In 1970 he bought the company and renamed it Bill Blass Limited. In 1999 he sold it to his longtime chief executive Michael Groveman for 50 million US dollars and retired to Connecticut, and he died on 12 June 2002.
Business of Fashion reports that Nexcen Brands bought the brand for 54.6 million US dollars in 2007. In 2008 the brothers Bill and Peter Kim bought it for 10 million US dollars, and their firm Peacock International Holdings became the Bill Blass Group. After creative director Jeffrey Monteiro left in 2012 the brand went dormant, and most licences were bought back or allowed to expire. A relaunch followed under creative director Chris Benz, with a direct to consumer, online only model.
Business model and distribution
In April 2019 the Bill Blass Group named The Brand Liaison to lead licensing for select retail programmes in men's and women's fashion. The agency was to target better tiers of distribution, including department stores, specialty stores and club channels, while the brand developed its own distribution alongside select licensing. The sources reviewed do not give recent revenue or current product details.
Why it matters
Bill Blass is a long standing example of an American designer name that continued through repeated ownership changes and licensing. Its history helps explain how heritage fashion brands can be revived or maintained without the founder.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Bill Blass?
Business of Fashion reports that Bill and Peter Kim bought the brand in 2008 and that their Bill Blass Group controls it. A 2019 announcement shows the Bill Blass Group still managing licensing.
Who was Bill Blass?
Bill Blass was an American fashion designer who bought Maurice Rentner Ltd. in 1970 and renamed it Bill Blass Limited. He sold the company in 1999 and died in 2002.