1971
Elie Tahari moves from Israel to the U.S. and eventually gets work in New York’s Garment Center as an electrician’s assistant.
1973
Tahari popularizes the tube top, which becomes an iconic fashion style.
1974
Begins designing namesake label Tahari.
• The designer opens his first boutique on Madison Avenue.
1977
First fashion show at Studio 54.
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1989
Tahari is named one of Crain’s most successful 40 under 40.
1990
First WWD front page.
1992
Alan Grosman is named president of Tahari.
1994
Tom Murry succeeds Alan Grosman as president.
• Tahari is admitted to the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
• The designer goes to the White House and meets with the Clintons.
1996
Tahari moves into new digs in the Grace Building on West 42nd Street and initiates a major expansion campaign, including licensing, international sales and a fragrance.
1997
Tahari teams with Andrew Rosen to launch Theory, a line of stretch sportswear that hits stores in February.
1998
Mark Mendelson joins Tahari Ltd. as president of sales and marketing.
• The company signs a deal for leather and active outerwear with Synergy Sport International of Hong Kong, and for a line of hats with Forget-Me-Not Hats.
2001
Tahari purchases 510 Fifth Avenue, which becomes the brand’s design center.
• Arthur S. Levine partners with the designer to form Tahari ASL, which includes the Tahari Arthur S. Levine brand of suits and dresses, as well as a private-label division.
2002
Fabien Baron redesigns the logo as the company name changes to Elie Tahari.
2003
Tahari sells his stake in Theory to Link International and Fast Retailing; Andrew Rosen retains his stake.
2004
The company opens its first freestanding boutiques in New York’s SoHo neighborhood and Las Vegas.
2005
A freestanding store bows in Atlanta, followed by Boston a year later.
2006
The launch of the menswear collection and women’s accessories with shoes and belts.
• Tahari sues his former business partner Rosen and 10 other defendants in New York State Supreme Court in a dispute over the sale of Theory. Ultimately, the case is settled out of court.
2007
The company opens its European headquarters in Milan, and a store in East Hampton, N.Y. In-store shops open at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills and Bloomingdale’s in San Francisco.
• Women’s outerwear in partnership with S. Rothschild and the T Tahari line launches.
• Rory Tahari, creative director, is named vice chairman.
2008
Terry Richardson photographs the spring 2008 ad campaign with model Erin Wasson.
• Tahari holds its spring 2009 runway show at The Four Seasons Restaurant.
• A freestanding boutique opens in Boca Raton, Fla., and in-store shops bow in London and Russia.
• Tahari offers a limited-edition swimwear and caftan collection in collaboration with artist Kenny Scharf.
2009
Tahari designs a limited-edition bicycle with proceeds going to Matthew Modine’s charity Bicycle for a Day.
• The company opens in-store shops in Korea and Paris.
• Men’s dress shirts and ties are introduced in partnership with Phillips-Van Heusen.
• Tahari’s iPhone application for the fall collections makes its debut.
2010
The designer holds a fall runway show for the first time at Bryant Park as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
• In-store shops open in Dubai and Mexico, and freestanding boutiques open in Istanbul and Newport Beach, Calif.
• Handbags launch at Bergdorf Goodman.
• A men’s suit collection is introduced in partnership with Peerless Clothing.
• Kobi Halperin is named executive creative director, succeeding Rory Tahari, who leaves the company.
2011
Freestanding boutiques open in Washington, D.C., and Dallas, and expanded in-store shops open with Neiman Marcus in Dallas, and Bloomingdale’s in New York.
• E-commerce begins at elietahari.com
• T Tahari jewelry launches.
• Tahari collaborates with actress Emmy Rossum to create the Emmy Bag to benefit Safe Horizon, and the designer partners with Jennifer Hudson and Saks Fifth Avenue for Key to the Cure benefiting Women’s Cancer Research Fund.
• Tahari takes a stake in Catherine Malandrino to expand the brand with a diffusion line, new product categories and in international markets.
2012
Tahari is a guest judge on “Project Runway All Stars” Season 2.
• The designer is honored by Worldwide Orphans.
• Freestanding boutique opens in Qatar.
2013
An eyewear collection and men’s furnishings are introduced.
• The company sells a majority stake in Catherine Malandrino to Bluestar Alliance.
• Sept. 4 is designated Elie Tahari Day by the City of New York, in recognition of the company’s 40th anniversary.
2016
Tahari gets political with his fall campaign titled “Madam President,” tapping Israeli model Shlomit Malka as the president sitting in the Oval Office wearing a red body-con dress.
2017
The designer partners with luxury dog retailer Canine Styles on an East Hampton, N.Y., pop-up shop offering clothing for pets.
- Tahari enters a licensing deal with IHL Group to produce intimates and sleepwear.
2018
Elie Tahari Ltd. and Bluestar Alliance LLC form a new joint venture company, TBH Brand Holdings LLC, where Tahari contributes the intellectual property for the Tahari and T Tahari collections.
- TBH Brand Holdings becomes responsible for the licensing management of Elie Tahari’s core trademarks and for global expansion.
2019
Tahari’s son, Jeremey, tries his hand at fashion design, launching the streetwear brand called Anti during his senior year of high school.
- The designer debuts his first fragrance under TBH Brand Holdings, marking the Elie Tahari brand’s 45th anniversary.
2020
Tahari introduces eco-conscious fabrics for his fall 2020 ready-to-wear collection.
2021
The designer releases his documentary, “The United States of Elie Tahari,” chronicling his life moving between Israel and Iran before immigrating to the U.S. after his brother was able to get a free airline ticket in 1971.
2023
The designer is honored with the lifetime achievement award during the 2023 Cultured Focus Magazine Awards.