Melissa Odabash

Melissa Ann Odabash MBE (born 1964) is an American fashion designer and former model based in London.[1] She is known for her swimwear designs and has been noted by Vogue as creating the "Ferraris of swimwear." Odabash's designs have been worn by Beyoncé, Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Rihanna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and the Princess of Wales.[2][3]

Melissa Odabash

MBE
Odabash in 2014
Born1964 (age 58–59)
NationalityAmerican
LabelMelissa Odabash
SpouseNicolas De Santis
Children2 daughters

Early life

Odabash grew up in New Jersey.[4] She is the daughter of Arthur R. (died 1998) and Lois Odabash of Demarest, New Jersey, and has four siblings (Robin, Jamie Lynn, Scott and Megan).[5][4][6] Arthur R. Odabash was a real-estate developer, and a co-founder and the vice-chairman of the Jersey Bank for Savings in Montvale, New Jersey, and the chairman of the Bergen County Department of Planning and Economic Review.[6][7] Her paternal grandfather was of Turkish origin who came to the United States at a young age.[8][9]

Career

Odabash began her career living and working in Italy as a model.[10] She decided to start creating her own swimwear by hand, selling them to independent boutiques in Milan and gaining global recognition. She opened a store in Notting Hill, London in 2007, followed by one in Chelsea. Her brand, which includes swim, beach & ready-to-wear collections is distributed in over 48 countries and retailed in over 250 department stores.

In 2004, Odabash collaborated Speedo, creating a collection of one-off swimwear pieces to celebrate their 75th anniversary.[11] She has also collaborated with Gwyneth Paltrow.[12] In 2012, Odabash developed a line of unisex hats to raise money and awareness for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.[13]

In 2014, Odabash won Salon International de la lingerie's Designer of the Year award[14] and was awarded as one of the 50 Most Influential People of London at The London Lifestyle Awards;[15] as well as winning Retailer of the Year in 2015. She is a guest speaker at business schools in the UK and US including Condé Nast's College of Fashion & Design and Harvard Business School.[16]

In June 2021, she was appointed an honorary member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), for services to international swimwear fashion.[17] Her Honours presentation at Buckingham Palace took place in November 2022.

Personal life

Odabash is married to Nicolas De Santis, an Italian businessman, and they have two grown daughters.[18][4]

See also

References
  1. "In conversation with Melissa Odabash MBE". STORIES Parfums. June 1, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  2. Zendejas, Sarah (June 16, 2017). "Swimwear Designer Melissa Odabash Suggests A Freezing Cold Shower Before Slipping Into A Bikini". W Magazine. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  3. Sutcliffe, Laura (July 5, 2019). "THIS royal swimwear designer has a swimsuit in mind for Kate Middleton". HELLO!. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  4. Brayford, Claire (March 26, 2017). "The tale of Melissa Odabash & Alaia & Avalon de Santis". thegracetales.co.uk. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  5. "Paid Notice: Deaths ODABASH, ARTHUR – The New York Times". The New York Times. November 16, 1998. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  6. "Jamie L. Odabash Becomes a Bride". The New York Times. June 18, 1989. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  7. "Oliver Cundiff Brown Weds Robin Odabash". The New York Times. September 13, 1987. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  8. Aras, Yaprak (2010), Ünlülerin mayoları bir Türkün elinden çıkıyor, Sabah, retrieved November 16, 2020, Tam olarak bilemiyorum ama babamın babası Türkmüş. Genç yaşta Amerika'ya yerleşmiş.
  9. Çiçek, Beste (May 30, 2017), Turkish DNA in World Fashion: Melissa Odabash, Istandist, retrieved November 16, 2020, I love Istanbul, it's become one of the coolest cities in the world and my origins are Turkish – so I definitely feel at home when I visit the city.
  10. "Q&A with Melissa Odabash – Swimwear & fashion designer". Ldnfashion.com. September 2, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  11. Staff, W. W. D. (July 18, 2003). "Speedo's Design Guru". WWD. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  12. "GOOP After 5 Years: Does Gwyneth Help Brands Grow?". FLARE. September 13, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  13. "Fashion Monitor". Fashion Monitor. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  14. "Mode City to honour Melissa Odabash at July show". Lingerieinsight.com. January 28, 2014. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  15. "The Fifty by London Lifestyle Awards". Issuu.com. October 27, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  16. "Harvard Business School Club of New York - Entrepreneurship in the Fashion Industry: An Evening with Melissa Odabash-SOLD OUT". Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  17. "Honorary Awards to Foreign Nationals in 2021". Gov.UK. 2021.
  18. Lisa Armstrong (August 12, 2015). "How Melissa Odabash became swimwear's cult cutter". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
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