A TRIBUTE TO FASHION DESIGNER LANCE KARESH

MR magazine is saddened to report the passing of Lance Karesh, one of menswear’s most talented designers from the 1970s through the 1990s who was known for his clean and modern aesthetic. Although Karesh had not been actively involved in the business for a while, his friends remember his important contributions to the industry, and his kind and gentle disposition. He died from late-stage bladder cancer.

Says his business partner and good friend Gene Pressman (who with his father, Fred Pressman, catapulted Barneys, his grandfather’s store, to worldwide acclaim), “Lance was a very close friend of mine since the 1970s. We decided to collaborate first on a men’s collection and later on a women’s collection, both under the umbrella of BASCO.

“Lance was quite the character: a stealth comic and critic with great taste. He was responsible for influencing me to go to Japan in the late 1970s where I brought designers like Comme Des Garcons and Yohji to America. In 1981 our design collaboration won the Cutty Sark award for the best new American designer. BASCO continued through 1996, at which point Lance moved on to designing women’s wear for various companies. He died much too young!”

Says PR agent Geoffrey Saunders, “BASCO was one of my accounts from the mid-‘80s to the early ‘90s. Lance was always a pleasure to work with: his design aesthetic as spot on! (I still have a few pieces…) I remember one fashion show where a very young Naomi Campbell arrived as the first outfit was walking on stage. Lance had been backstage literally pulling his hair out. Naomi and Antonio Sabato Jr. were the show-closing bride and groom (dressed in pale grey trend coats…) Lance made BASCO a leading force in American fashion for too brief a time.”

From writer/editor Ron DiGennaro, “Lance was a great friend who made a real contribution to the menswear community. He was a terrific designer and a true gentleman.”

And from menswear maven Gary Williams, “Lance was truly one of the good guys. I feel very fortunate to have spent the early part of my career representing BASCO. Lance was a talented, intuitive designer, and a student of all things Americana. He was also the kind of guy to engage (over a beer) in deep conversation about politics, food, music, the Knicks…  I will truly miss him.”