James Coviello was born in the 1960's and grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. He studied at Parsons College of Design in New York, graduating in 1987.
James left Parsons to design jewelry for Erickson Beamon. He designed press and collection samples, which appeared in numerous fashion magazines. At this time, Coviello established the James Coviello hat collection. From the first season, the line was carried by specialty and department stores across the country, including Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales, and Neiman Marcus. Within 2 years, he was also making hats for runway shows for many 7th Avenue designers, such as Oscar de la Renta, Geoffrey Beene, Calvin Klein, and Todd Oldham.
In 1991, he met Anna Sui who was styling a fashion shoot and wanted a very special hat. James made just the perfect hat, and so she enlisted him to do the hats for her first runway show. The next season, Sui created the James Coviello for Anna Sui label. Today this successful collaboration still flourishes.
Show Full
In 2000, Coviello presented his first runway show. The James Coviello Collection, now a full ready-to-wear collection, includes knitwear, wovens, and accessories. He has been showing at the tents in Bryant Park for the last 4 seasons. Today Coviello designs three collections a year, and sells to over 40 specialty boutiques and department stores throughout the world, including Fred Segal (LA), Barneys NY, Marissa Collection (FL), Fleurt (Dubai), Powder (UK), Jade Jakarta (Indonesia) and Club 21 in Singapore.
His Spring/Summer 2003 collection revealed a whimsical side, corsets and collarless jackets were decorated with folklore embroidery and sweet woolen sweaters had heart patterns. Tailored skirt suits and elegant chiffon dresses proved that Coviello is one of the most interesting of designers. One of the outfits from the show, is on the right.
Henri Bendel stocks his flirty, witty, pretty, perky, charming clothes.
In 2003, Itokin Co. Ltd., the licensee for the James Coviello Collection in Japan and China, opened 2 free standing James Coviello boutiques, one in Tokyo and one in Osaka. Eight James Coviello shop-in-shops are now open throughout Japan, and 10 more shops are planned for the upcoming year.
Also in 2003, Coviello began designing a collection for Spiegel Catalog. The James Coviello for Spiegel Collection is sold exclusively in Spiegel’s new Big Book, which was re-launched in 2004 to great fanfare. This collection includes wovens and knitwear designed by Coviello, and has the same vintage sensibility and feminine appeal that he is known for at a more affordable price. The James Coviello for Spiegel Collection also includes home furnishings. Coviello is particularly proud of this collection, which incorporates his life-long interest in antique collecting and his passion for interior and historical design.
In 2004, jamescoviello.com was launched. This site will be a vehicle to stimulate viewers from around the world with the many-faceted interests and design philosophies of the James Coviello brand.
