ABS

Catering to the contemporary woman’s never-ending craving for fashion, ABS specializes in affordable luxury - the latest trends and fabulous looks, whether for work or play.

The company is the brainchild of Allen B. Schwartz, whose instinct for trends is present in each and every design, and makes a statement that the ABS client expects.The first ABS retail store was launched in Santa Monica, California in 1988. In 1992, the first East Coast store debuted in Wheatley, New York and in 1993 the Pasadena, California boutique was opened. In 1994 the Costa Mesa, California location was opened in South Coast Plaza and a seasonal location opened its doors in West Hampton, New York. Today, international locations abound - Doha, Dubai, Bahrain and Kuwait to name a few. The brand is distributed domestically through leading department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Lord & Taylor and Nordstrom.

The ABS sportswear, dress and jewelry collections are worn by top LA and NY fashionistas as well as red carpet starlets: Catherine Zeta Jones, Paris Hilton, Mischa Barton, Jennifer Hudson, Lindsay Lohan, and Carrie Underwood, and other exciting personalities. For more than six years, Allen Schwartz has been seen on Entertainment Tonight as the exclusive fashion critic and consults on other shows such as E! News and The Insider. He is currently talking with Nightline for a new segment on fashion. Furthermore, with ABS’s on-trend sensibility, the brand receives consistent editorial coverage in major magazines such as Elle, Teen Vogue, People Style Watch, Lucky, Marie Claire, UsWeekly, and Cosmopolitan.

In 2003 Schwartz partnered with Armand Marciano, formerly of Guess Inc. This strategic partnership allows Schwartz to focus and closely control design and production while Marciano drives licensee and distribution initiatives. Today, Allen and Armand are at the forefront of bringing ABS by Allen Schwartz to the next level through the use of expansive licensing, distribution, advertising and marketing programs. Due to their tremendous expertise and strong work ethic, they have partnered with several fine companies and established 19 active licenses. The ABS by Allen Schwartz brand now has signature lines in jewelry, swimwear, eyewear, handbags, footwear, outerwear, intimates, as well as an Essentials by ABS brand in several categories.

ALLEN B. SCHWARTZ
FOUNDER AND DESIGN DIRECTOR OF ABS
Allen B. Schwartz began his adventure and ultimate destiny in the fashion world at the age of sixteen when he ventured from his home in Brooklyn to Manhattan. With drive and determination, Mr. Schwartz landed his first job at Russ Togs. Through his passion for sales, Mr. Schwartz quickly worked his way through the ranks. However it was his instinct for design that would guide his success.

Esprit de Corp would be Schwartz’s next major venture, in which he founded the brand and spent ten years at the helm growing the business in San Francisco. In 1982, Schwartz decided it was time to go out on his own. With the desire to design still burning, he made several major life changes including moving to Los Angeles where he launched ABS by Allen Schwartz. The media and fashion buyers alike quickly hailed Schwartz "the master of trend." He is revered and applauded for the extraordinary job he does of bringing the latest trends to the stores in record time, with his own vision and interpretation.

The media has widely covered Schwartz and aided him in reaching a national and international audience. He appears regularly on Entertainment Tonight as a style expert, as well as frequents fashion segments on CNBC, CNN, The Today Show and Oprah. Schwartz was recognized by Forbes magazine as heading one of the nation's fastest growing fashion companies.

After over two decades of designing for his moniker brand, ABS, Schwartz is even more passionate than ever about design and predicting the next trends.

As he directs the brand into the future, he applies a simple credo to his life and designs…"It's all about the here and now." Allen Schwartz currently resides in Southern California with his wife and two children, but also lives bio coastal, with a New York apartment on 52nd Street and a beautiful home in Long Island.

ARMAND MARCIANO
Armand Marciano brings over thirty years of industry experience in almost every area of the fashion business. Marciano was raised in the south of France in a region that cultivated a deep understanding of both design and fashion from a business perspective. Mr. Marciano honed his skills by creating and running twenty-two retail stores.

In 1981, along with his brothers, Marciano decided to bring the families' talents across the Atlantic to develop the denim market in the United States, which lead to the creation of GUESS?, Inc. Using his business, fashion and marketing instincts Marciano helped resurrect the denim market in America and build GUESS?, Inc. into the fashion leader it is today.

In 2002 Marciano began looking for a new opportunity to apply his years of business experience and natural aptitude for fashion. In 2003, Marciano met Allen Schwartz for the first time and the professional and personal relationship was apparent immediately. Mr. Schwartz was looking for a partner to take his company to the next level. Mr. Marciano wanted a company he could be actively involved in not just a silent partner providing financial backing. It was a perfect fit.

Today, ABS by Allen Schwartz heads into the future with Schwartz leading the design side of the business and Marciano at the helm of the business end. Marciano oversees the growth of the business via licensees, distribution, customer service and human resources.

"I see a great, great future for ABS by Allen Schwartz," says Marciano.