Eileen Fisher, who was born on June 6, 1951, is an American fashion designer and business owner. She started the women's clothing brand Eileen Fisher Inc.

Biography

Fisher was born in Des Plaines, Illinois, and was the second of seven children in her family. When Fisher decided to attend college, her father told her that the family could not help pay for her tuition because they needed to save money to support her younger brother’s education. Fisher said in an interview with Inc. in 2013, "It did not upset me — it was common back then. I never expected my parents to help. I paid for my education at the University of Illinois by working as a waitress." She began studying math but later changed her major to interior design, graduating in 1972. In 1973, Fisher moved to New York City. She worked as an interior designer and as a graphic artist before starting her own fashion business. Fisher has two children, Zackary and Sasha, with her former husband, David Zweibel. She currently lives in Irvington, New York.

Company

Eileen Fisher Inc. is an American company owned by one person, Eileen Fisher. She started the company in 1984 with $350. Her first order at a clothing design show in New York was for $3,000. Three months later, she made $40,000 in sales. In 1986, she opened her first store on East 9th Street in Manhattan.

In 2002, the company earned $144 million in income. In 2003, it earned $154 million. By 2015, its income was estimated to be over $300 million. In 2003, 35 percent of the company’s clothing was made in the United States, and the rest was made in China. The clothing produced in China followed the rules set by Social Accountability International’s SA8000.

The company has more than 1,200 employees and operates over 56 retail stores in fifteen states. In 2011, the company expanded to Canada, opening its first store in Vancouver, British Columbia. In October 2012, it opened stores in London, England. Since its start, the company has sold its clothing through over 1,000 wholesale locations and 68 retail stores.

To reduce waste, the company started a recycling program. Customers can return their gently used Eileen Fisher clothing and receive a $5 gift certificate for each item. After being cleaned, the clothes are resold. The money from reselling helps fund business grants for women and leadership programs for young women.