Sully Bonnelly

Sully Bonnelly
Born December 24, 1956
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Nationality American citizen
Occupation Fashion designer
Awards Golden Coast Award (Chicago 1999)
Website
http://www.sullybonnelly.com

Sully Bonnelly (born December 24, 1956) is a Dominican fashion designer of high-style clothing for women. He is the Creative Director for Sully Bonnelly.

Early Years

Bonnelly was born into a family of both Corsican[1] and French descent.[2] An uncle of him, Rafael Bonnelly-Fondeur, became president of the Dominican Republic from 1962 to 1963.

Bonnelly studied architecture at Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo and later moved to New York, where he studied at Parsons School of Design and began his career in fashion as Oscar de la Renta’s assistant. He also worked as a designer for the houses of Bill Blass and Eli Tahari before starting his own collection in 1998, retailing at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and other stores around the globe. Later in his career, he returned to Oscar de la Renta as creative director for the O Oscar Collection.

Career

Bonnelly, a native of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, grew up with fashion being an intrinsic part of his identity.He studied architecture at UASD before moving to New York where he graduated from Parsons School of Design and began his career in fashion as Oscar de la Renta’s assistant. He then worked as a designer for the houses of Bill Blass and Eli Tahari before starting his namesake collection in 1998, retailing at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and other better stores around the world. He later returned to Oscar de la Renta as creative director for the O Oscar Collection. In 2000 Sully Bonnelly Accents was launched, an exclusive collection for Home Shopping Network (HSN) and HSN en Espanol, making him the first Latin American designer featured on a shopping network. In 2001 Bonnelly served as Creative Director for Citrine, a contemporary sportswear collection.Two years later the Sully Bonnelly Bridal collection was launched. In 1999 he received the Golden Coast Award, a prestigious fashion award in Chicago. In 2001 was elected member to the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) joining an important community of over 300 American fashion and accessory designers. Additionally, he has been honored by several Dominican organizations for his outstanding work in fashion. New York Governor George Pataki honored him in 2005 in celebration of Dominican Heritage Month. Most recently Bonnelly received the Orden al Merito Ciudadano, a recognition given to Dominicans all over the world who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers and done honor to their homeland. Past honorees include: the authors Junot Diaz and Julia Alvarez, the musician Michael Camilo and fashion designer Oscar de la Renta.Today, Sully Bonnelly is Creative Director for Isaac Mizrahi Sportswear, Eveningwear and Dresses. Memories of his travels around the world infuse all his designs, forming his imaginary scrapbook of colors, textures, rhythms and fragrances. These inspirations materialize into exciting designs that instill in women who wear them a feeling of well being and self-confidence.

Other notable accomplishments

In 2001, Bonnelly held the position as Creative Director for Citrine.[3] In 2002, he designed[4] Celia Cruz's dress for the Latin Grammy Awards. In 2003, the Bonnelly Bridal collection was launched.[5][6] In 2008, Bonnelly became the Creative Director for Muse,[7] a contemporary women's clothing division of Maggy London in New York and Anthracite by Muse.

Recognition

In 1999, Bonnelly was a recipient of the Golden Coast Award, a prestigious fashion award in Chicago. In 2001, he was elected member to the Council of Fashion Designers of America, an important community of over 300 American fashion and accessory designers.[8]

He has also been acknowledged by several Dominican organizations for his outstanding work in fashion. Former New York Governor George Pataki acknowledged Bonnelly as a distinguished fashion designer in 2005 during Dominican Heritage Month.[9] Bonnelly received the Orden al Merito Ciudadano,[10] an award given to Dominicans all over the world who have distinguished themselves through their careers and represented honor to their homeland.

Bonnelly's house was featured in Rima Suqi's book Fashion Designers At Home.[11]

Personal life

In January 2012, Sully Bonnelly married Robert Littman, president of the Vergel Foundation, which manages a collection of modern and contemporary Mexican Art in New York and Cuernavaca, Mexico.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Falleció el padre del diseñador Sully Bonelly" (in Spanish). Santo Domingo: Listín Diario. 7 December 2008. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014. Dedicó años investigando todo lo referente al apellido Bonnelly y sus orígenes históricos. Fue quien organizó exitosamente los dos encuentros de las distintas ramas de esta gran familia, realizados hace varios años. Viajó a Córcega tierra de origen del primer Bonnelly que se asentó en la República Dominicana, e hizo un levantamiento de sus ancestros. Interesado en la unidad familiar de los Bonnelly estaba escribiendo un libro para dejarlo como legado. Sus restos mortales serán traídos en los próximos días a la ciudad de Santo Domingo, República Dominicana.
  2. ↑ Ivonna Ginebra (1995). "Segundo Encuentro de la Familia Bonnelly" (PDF). Instituto Dominicano de Genealogía. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "Puerto Rico Moda" (PDF). Puerto Rica Moda. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  4. ↑ "Museo Celia Cruz". Mega Latina. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "Sully Bonnelly- Spring 2005 Bridal Collection".
  6. ↑ "Spring 2005 Bridal Collection". New York Magazine. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  7. ↑ Ramirez, Sonia (3 October 2011). "Sully Bonnelly: "Lo que más me atrae de los textiles en Latinoamérica es la riqueza en el trabajo manual"". AOL Latino. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  8. ↑ "Council of Fashion Designers of America". 8 June 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  9. ↑ "Sully Bonnelly". Puerto Rico Moda. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  10. ↑ "Consul Eduardo Selman destaca progreso de dominicanos en Estados Unidos". Ayuda Total. 24 February 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  11. ↑ "Assouline". Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  12. ↑ "Sully Bonnelly and Robert Littman". The New York Times. 15 January 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.

External links