Fashionpedia

Jack McCollough

"The fashion world is always looking for what's new, which has been helpful to us because we are new. But we really have to watch ourselves because people get so sick of things so quickly. If you're not the new kids anymore, what are you?"

One half of the designers for Proenza Schouler, Jack McCollough was born in Japan yet grew up in New Jersey. After McCollough graduated high school he enrolled at the San Francisco Art Institute to study glass blowing but soon realized he wanted to make a change. After transferring to New York’s Parsons School of Design in 1999, McCollough met and instantly formed a friendship with Lazaro Hernandez (the other half of Proenza Schouler). In his junior year, McCollough took an internship with Marc Jacobs and was lucky enough to work with the renowned designer himself. For his senior year project at Parsons, McCollough teamed up with Hernandez to design a collection, in which they gave themselves the moniker, Proenza Schouler; after their mothers’ maiden names. Not only was the line a huge success within the school but the partners received the Golden Thimble award and their entire line was bought by Barneys New York. By 2004 they launched their first shoe collection and three years later took on ophthalmic glasses and sunglasses. Their designs have won both McCollough and Hernandez international acclaim and in 2007 they won the Womenswear Designer of the Year award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (tying with Oscar de la Renta).

Life Facts:
McCollough and Hernandez have matching tattoos behind their left ears.