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Johnson Hartig is an American fashion designer. He co-founded the fashion line Libertine and is the current CEO and Creative Director.
Johnson Hartig | |
|---|---|
 Johnson Hartig 2018 | |
| Born | September 25, 1970 |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Years active | 2001 - present |
| Notable work | Libertine clothing |
Hartig's work has been featured in Vogue, The World of Interiors, New York Times, and has been worn by a number of celebrities.
"The clothes are joyful, multimedia, collaged art pieces as likely to be worn by society matriarchs as twentysomething rock 'n' rollers,” according to the Los Angeles Times.[1]
His book, Libertine: The Creative Beauty, Humor, and Inspiration Behind the Cult Label, was published by Rizzoli in 2015.
Early life edit
Hartig was born in Whittier, California. As a youngster, he was taught to sew by his grandmother and the lady next door.[2] Later, he traveled the world learning about different cultures because his father worked for an international oil company.[3] Returning to the United States, he attended California State University.
Libertine edit
Settling in Los Angeles, California, Hartig founded the Libertine clothing line in 2001 with DKNY graphic designer Cindy Greene, a vocalist of electro-pop band Fischerspooner.[2][4] Originally, his designs—vintage style with silk-screened art like skulls, 19th century portraits, and crystal beading—caught the attention of fashion designers like Karl Lagerfeld as well as artists such as Damien Hirst. In 2007, Hartig designed one of Target's Go International collaborations, and dissolved his partnership with Greene soon after.
Hartig first met Vogue editor Anna Wintour[5] in 2003, the magazine subsequently has featured his clothes several times.[6][7] The following year Libertine was nominated as one of the 10 semi-finalists in the first CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund which was documented in the film Seamless, directed by Douglass Keeve.
He became one of the first designers to create a line for the Wear LACMA project, which was sold to benefit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. For the museum's 50th anniversary in 2015, Hartig was one of those who created new Wear LACMA pieces to mark the occasion.[1]
On September 22 of that same year, Rizzoli Publishing released the book, Libertine: The Creative Beauty, Humor, and Inspiration Behind the Cult Label, which was written by Hartig, with a foreword by Thom Browne and Betty Halbreich. The book contains a history of the designer's clothing line, as well as documentation of some of his antics including the time Hartig took a bath in Karl Lagerfield's hotel room tub, swapping some of his clothing for original art pieces from Damien Hirst, and conning Cher into signing a note claiming he is her favorite designer.[6]
In November 2016, at an invite-only Libertine event at Neiman Marcus, former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown presented Hartig with a government proclamation signifying the key to the city.[5]
In 2019, Hartig created luxury-apparel line to honor Jimi Hendrix in honor of the 50th anniversary of the musician's Electric Ladyland album.[8]
Among the celebrities who wear Hartig's Libertine clothes include Mick Jagger, Offset, Martha Stewart, Young Thug, Gwen Stefani, 2 Chainz, Beyonce, Katy Perry, LL Cool J, Sting,[4] Cher, Taylor Swift,[6] P Diddy, Usher,[1] Brad Pitt,[9] Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson,[10] Cyndi Lauper,[11] Brandi Carlile,[12] and Damien Hirst.
In February 2022, Hartig created luxury-apparel line with fashion brand Desigual with a collection of women's clothing that showed its funniest and most non-conformist version and celebrated excess, ornament, roundness and punk.[13]
Achievements edit
| Year | Organization | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Vogue | Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Fund Award Semi-Finalist |
| 2009 | European Design Association | Artist of the Millennium Award |
| 2016 | City of San Francisco | Key to the City Proclamation |
| 2017 | MTV | Celebrated Designer Award |
| 2018 | The Fashion Group International | Career Achievement |
| 2018 | PS Art Association | PS heArt Award |
| 2018 | Fashion Group International of Dallas | Career Achievement in Fashion |
References edit
- ^ a b c Moore, Booth (September 13, 2015). "Johnson Hartig's Libertine fashion label goes its own crazy, crafty way in Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ a b Keeps, David A. (September 23, 2007). "A 'rad' fashion designer dresses up his home". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ McKinnon, Kelsey (September 2015). "Cult Culture". C Magazine. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ a b Messenger, Rawdon (April 2015). "All Things Considered". The World of Interiors.
- ^ a b Sweeney, Katie (November 16, 2017). "Libertine's Johnson Hartig Given Key To SF At Neiman Marcus Event". Haute Living. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ a b c Anderson, Kristin (October 13, 2015). "Bathing in Karl's Tub and Bartering With Damien Hirst: Three Career Highlights From Libertine's Johnson Hartig". Vogue. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ Borrelli-Persson, Laird (September 10, 2018). "SPRING 2019 READY-TO-WEAR Libertine". Vogue. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ Sewing, Joy (November 23, 2018). "Libertine founder Johnson Hartig finds creativity in the quirky". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ Golder Saft, Ellyn (November 17, 2016). "LIBERTINE DESIGNER JOHNSON HARTIG: ART MEETS FASHION!". Fashion at 50ish. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Libertine Movement". Paper Magazine. July 9, 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Medina, Marcy (July 21, 2018). "Cyndi Lauper Wears Libertine on Summer 2018 Tour". WWD. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ McKenzie, Lesley (February 10, 2019). "Brandi Carlile's Grammys Look Is Inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ WW, FashionNetwork com. "Desigual launches collaboration with Libertine founder Johnson Hartig". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved 2022-12-14.