Joelle Minassian

Biography

River North — Joelle Minassian began her Textile & Apparel Design program at the University of Wisconsin, at Madison, where she won the “Headwear and Wearable Art” award. She continued to the Fashion Institute of Technology, in New York, to study Fashion Design, and graduated with her second degree. She then worked with a designer for celebrities, where she was “the cutter” and managed the production of dresses for Ivana Trump, Shania Twain, Pamela Anderson, Heidi Klum, etc.

In 2000, Joelle moved to Italy to design for Versus and Versace Jeans Couture. Next she designed the Gianfranco Ferré Jeans and Sport accessory lines, followed by designing and managing accessory lines at Just Cavalli (Roberto Cavalli). Finally she decided to start designing for her own label, while supporting herself by teaching the main fashion design course at a state university in Rome.

In 2004, she created Joëlle Nadine Designs, L.L.C. and moved back to Chicago in late 2005.

Some recognition that Joelle has received recently includes the Fashion Group International’s “Rising Star” award for the category of Accessories in 2006, and the “Best in Show” award in Marshall Field’s Distinction in Design contest in 2005. In addition, her handbags have graced the catwalks during Fashion Focus Chicago 2006 and 2007.