Famous People Who Launched Clothing and Jewelry Lines a to z

Tichina Arnold is best known for portraying Pam James, opposite Martin Lawrence, on the sitcom Martin and Rochelle on the show Everybody Hates Chris.

Cristóbal Balenciaga was a Spanish-French fashion designer and the leading couturier of Spain in the 1920s-30s. He moved to Paris during the Spanish Civil War.

Victoria Beckham is a fashion designer and singer chiefly known for her work with the Spice Girls and for being the wife of soccer star David Beckham.

Luciano Benetton is the founder of the Benetton Group, which sells clothing in varying lines, notably the United Colors of Benetton.

Jimmy Buffet is a well known folk country singer and songwriter. He wrote the popular songs "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger in Paradise."

With her trademark suits and little black dresses, fashion designer Coco Chanel created timeless designs that are still popular today.

Liz Claiborne was a fashion designer and icon who created a clothing empire. She's also the first woman to found a company (Liz Claiborne Inc.) that landed on the Fortune 500 list.

Oscar de la Renta is one of the world’s leading fashion designers. Famous for his women's evening wear and suits, his line is distinctly modern yet feminine.

Actress Hilary Duff came to fame as the title character on the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire. Her debut pop record, Metamorphosis, went triple-platinum.

Fashion designer Perry Ellis launched a new wave of fashion that was defined by his signature baggy look. His clothes were lauded as both classic and adventurous.

Tom Ford is a fashion designer and film director who was the Creative Director of Gucci from 1994-2004. He founded his own Tom Ford fashion label in 2004.

Roy Halston Frowick, best known as Halston, was an iconic clothing designer of the 1970s. His sexy, yet elegant dresses became a staple in American discos.

John Galliano is a British fashion designer who served as head designer of the French haute couture houses Givenchy (1995-1996) and Christian Dior (1996-2011).

Jean-Paul Gaultier is a French designer known for his influential designs, especially the creation of Madonna’s infamous conical bras for her 1990 Blond Ambition tour.

Kathie Lee Gifford won over TV audiences with her on-screen chemistry with co-anchor Regis Philbin on The Morning Show. She now co-anchors the Today show.

Kim Gordon is the bass player for the band Sonic Youth as well as an artist and clothing designer.

American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger created a brand of clothing that was extremely popular with several different communities in the 1990s.

Model Kathy Ireland graced the covers of many magazines, including Sports Illustrated, in the 1980s. Today she runs her own successful business Kathy Ireland Worldwide.

Fashion designer Betsey Johnson developed her edgy, offbeat style during the new wave/punk era of the late 1970s.

Michael Jordan is a former American basketball player who led the Bulls to six national championships and earned the NBA Most Valuable Player Award five times.

American fashion designer Donna Karan is one of the most influential designers in the world today.

Kim Kardashian is a model, actress, entrepreneur, socialite and star of the reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Fashion designer Calvin Klein is known for his line of menswear and womenswear. He also designs home collections, fragrances and cosmetics.

Former supermodel Heidi Klum has produced and served as host and judge of Project Runway, a competitive reality television series about fashion designers.

Beyoncé Knowles is a multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning recording artist who's acclaimed for her thrilling vocals, videos and live shows.

Michael Kors is a fashion designer and judge on the television show, Project Runway. He designed the Michelle Obama's dress for her first official portrait.

Member of the legendary Four Musketeers of French tennis, Renee Lacoste also invented the metal tennis racket and was founder of the Lacoste line of sportswear.

Ralph Lauren is an American clothing designer best known for his sportswear line, Polo Ralph Lauren, which is the centerpiece of his fashion empire.

Mixing rock, punk and a rebellious style, Canadian singer Avril Lavigne's first album sold 15 million copies, thanks to hit singles "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi."

Actress and singer Jennifer Lopez is one of Hollywood’s leading ladies who’s also forged a successful pop and dance music career.

Model Elle Macpherson put the super in "supermodel." In her day, she was known as "The Body" because of her stunning height and figure.

Pop legend Madonna is known for her constant reinvention as a performer. Her biggest hits include "Papa Don't Preach," "Like a Prayer" and "Vogue."

Fashion designer and committed vegetarian Stella McCartney is the daughter of ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and his late wife, Linda.

Alyssa Milano started her career as a child star, appearing on TV's Who's the Boss? and onstage in Annie. She returned as an adult to the drama Charmed.

Fashion designer Issey Miyake used new technology to create innovative textiles with both Eastern and Western influences for his clothing line, Pleats Please.

With her incredibly thin, boyish body, model Kate Moss created quite a stir in the modeling world, launching what became known as the waif look.

Ashley Olsen, along with her twin sister Mary-Kate, came to stardom as a baby on TV's Full House, then built a vast media and fashion empire by the age of 21.

Zac Posen is a fashion designer who became the Next Big Thing before he even had his first runway show.

Known as the 'wild child' of Monaco for her scandalous affairs, Princess Stephanie's diverse career path has included singing, swimwear design and modeling.

Nicole Richie is the adopted daughter of Lionel Richie and the star of the 2003-2007 TV show The Simple Life.

Comedian Joan Rivers created a Grammy nominated comedy album, launched a syndicated daytime talk show, and went on to win a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Yves Saint Laurent was best known as an influential European fashion designer who impacted fashion in the 1960s to the present day.

Kimora Lee Simmons is a former model, ex-wife to Russell Simmons, creator of a fashion line called Baby Phat and star of her own reality TV show.

Co-founder of Def Jam Records, Russell Simmons was the force behind the hip-hop revolution, promoting stars like the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy and LL Cool J.

Jessica Simpson is an American pop singer, actress and fashion empire entrepreneur, and a former MTV reality show star.

Jaclyn Smith is a model and actress who starred in all five seasons of Charlie’s Angels. She has also launched her own collections for K-Mart.

Tori Spelling is an actress who has appeared on TV and in films, notably on the TV show Beverly Hills 90210.

Gwen Stefani is a founding member and lead singer of the ska-pop group No Doubt.

Levi Strauss started an enduring fashion empire, which he launched by making one of the world's most durable and popular clothing items--the blue jeans.

All-American model Cheryl Tiegs appeared in numerous photo shoots with high profile magazines like Vogue, Elle, and Sports Illustrated, in the 1970s.

Ivana Trump was once the glamorous wife of real estate mogul Donald Trump.

Christy Turlington is one of America’s most successful models. Best known for her work for Maybelline, she has appeared on more than 300 magazine covers.

Known for her fashion design and tumultuous personal life, actress, writer and artist Gloria Vanderbilt became an iconic figure in American popular culture during the 20th century.

A designer to celebrities and royalty such as Princess Diana, Gianni Versace brought vitality and art to an industry considered out of touch with the street.

Diane von Fürstenberg is one of the world's most successful fashion designers. Once married to Austro-Italian Prince Egon von Furstenberg, she designed her iconic wrap dress for the working woman.

Known for balancing modern designs with traditional elegance, Vera Wang is arguably the most prominent designer of bridal wear in America.

Emma Watson is best known for playing the character of Hermione, the best friend of Harry Potter in the Harry Potter film franchise.

Actress Esther Williams, nicknamed “America’s Mermaid,” helped popularize synchronized swimming through a string of hugely popular films in the 1940s and 1950s.