Michele Bohbot
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Michele Bohbot (born - 1960 in Fez, Morocco) is a Moroccan American fashion designer and retailer.
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[edit] Biography
Michele Bohbot was originally born in Fez, Morocco. At the age of nineteen, she moved to Paris where she studied philosophy and law at the Sorbonne University. When she was 19, she married her husband, Marc, who proposed to her four days after they met.
Michele has been the recipient of multiple awards. In October 2001, she was recognized as the “Best Contemporary Designer” at the Dallas Fashion Awards. In April of 2002, she was honored as one of “The Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World.” In February 2008, she was named as Esteemed Entrepreneur of the Year at The RAW SPIRIT AWARDS in Las Angeles[1]
Michele currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband Marc and their seven children.
[edit] Bisou Bisou
She started her fashion career in Paris where she opened her first fashion outlet called "Micky 1". [2] She went on to open and manage a number of retail stores that she and Marc owned around Paris.
In 1987, Michele left France with her husband and then three young children and settled in Los Angeles where Marc had a business selling French jeans. The business failed, the Bohbots lost everything and Marc wanted to move back to France. [3] But Michele, who was pregnant with her fourth child, preferred to stay and convinced Marc to stay with her. After the delivery of the baby [4], she convinced her husband to set up a business with the vision of bringing Parisian street fashion with a modern style to American women. Although she knew something about designing, she had no expertise with sewing or the construction of a garment. With a total of $6,000, she teamed up with a seamstress from her husbands failed jeans business, bought fabric, rented a studio, and launched her collection under her own label BISOU-BISOU, French slang meaning, “a little kiss.” Initially, they only sold jeans, but over time the collection grew to incorporate sportswear, denim and dresses, along with licensees for shoes, outerwear, handbags, and accessories.
In its 20 year history, BISOU-BISOU has become a global fashion leader, exceeding $80 million in annual revenues and employing 350 people. With offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Paris, BISOU-BISOU has come to sell its garments on the international market at high-end department stores all over the world.
In 2003, Michele signed a licensing agreement with J. C. Penney, giving exclusive distribution rights to this retail chain. [5]
[edit] Personal life
Michele resides in Los Angeles and is married to Marc. She has seven children and two grandsons.
Michele lectures with the Learning Annex, giving motivational workshops for those in need of guidance. In addition, Michele makes time to teach YOGA classes and charitably established the first-ever children’s YOGA program at the Boys and Girls Club of America. Similarly, she donates her Yoga expertise to several Step-Up Women’s network events throughout the year.
[edit] References
- ^ Global Fashion Designer and Bisou Bisou CEO Michele Bohbot Named Esteemed Entrepreneur of the Year
- ^ Zoominfo Profile of Michele Bohbot
- ^ Bisou Bisou designer Michele Bohbot balances family and big business.
- ^ Interview with Michele Bohbot
- ^ Bisou Bisou Press Release
