Albert Nipon is an American fashion designer and ladies clothing
manufacturer.
Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Nipon turned a small maternity clothes
company into an internationally known producer of ultra-feminine women's
clothing during the early 1970s whose instant popularity caught the fashion
world by surprise and quickly made Nipon's "Albert Nipon" brand of clothing
famous. Sales of Albert Nipon dresses reached $60 million in 1984, and Nipon
counted among his celebrity clients Mary Tyler Moore, Barbara Walters,
Rosalynn Carter and Nancy Reagan.
Nipon's fall was as rapid as his rise; in 1984, he was indicted for tax
evasion and bribery in an investigation of the Philadelphia IRS office and
served time in a federal penitentiary.
But the designer's career did not end with his conviction and incarceration.
After Nipon served time, his company declared bankruptcy in 1988 but
survived intact as Albert Nipon Licensing, and Albert Nipon designs and
fragrances continue to be available in dress shops and fashion boutiques
around the world. |
