Elie Tahari - Moving To The US

Moving To The US

Tahari immigrated to the United States in 1971, as an electrician with help from his older brother. Moving to New York he sought work in Manhattan's Garment District, sleeping many nights at a YMCA hotel, or on the benches of Central Park. Selling clothing from a boutique in Greenwich Village introduced him to women's fashion, and he began designing women's fashion inspired by the New York City nightclub scene.

Throughout the 1970s, Tahari remained focused on women's fashions, and his designs were well received. He was one of the first fashion designers to open a boutique on Madison Avenue, in 1974. In the 1980s, Tahari turned his focus to the tailored suit.

In the United States, Tahari has boutiques in New York, Boston, East Hampton, Atlanta, Bal Harbour, Boca Raton, Las Vegas, and Dallas. In the 2007 movie Enchanted, two characters are shown shopping at Tahari's New York City store.

In 2011, one of the company's executives sued the company, accusing it of discriminating against non-Israelis.

He and his former business partner Andrew Rosen co-founded the Theory fashion brand in 1997. Tahari designed the clothes and Rosen was in charge of marketing and sales. Tahari sold his share of the business in 2003 and is no longer involved in the company.