Joseph Altuzarra is a French American luxury womenswear designer and the creative director of Altuzarra. Born in 1983, Joseph was raised in Paris by a Chinese-American mother and French father.

In 2012, speaking of his upbringing, Joseph said, “I was not a very popular kid in high school, and I had this idea that the way that I dressed would change how liked I was. It was that kind of Pygmalion story. I think, ultimately, that’s probably why I became interested in fashion: its transformative power, and how it can change your identity.”

Altuzarra studied art and art history at Swarthmore before working under Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy in Paris and launching Altuzarra in New York in 2008. His interest in different facets of culture–ranging from film, dance, and literature to fine art and crafts–characterizes his collections, which often focus on themes of metamorphosis and change.

With his namesake brand, Joseph is committed to creating a sophisticated wardrobe, built on the principles of timelessness and uncompromising quality. Exuding sensuality and anchored in artisanal craftsmanship, each collection expresses Joseph’s own curiosity about the world, while speaking to the power of modern femininity.

Altuzarra was named the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Winner in 2011. Since then, Joseph has received accolades including Forbes’ 30 Under 30, Swarovski Award for Womenswear Design, the Woolmark Prize, and Business of Fashion’s.