Alexis Bittar is the leading accessories designer of our time. The designer’s signature avant-guard designs have garnered him many accolades, including CFDA Designer of The Year. For over 30 years, Bittar has been the ‘go to’ accessories designer for fearless trailblazers with the likes of Beyonce, Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Meghan Markle, Meghan Thee Stallion and Karlie Kloss, all choosing to repeatedly wear his pieces. Bittar has collaborated with some of the biggest Fashion Houses in the Industry such as Burberry, Michael Kors and Jeremy Scott. In 2015, Bittar stepped away from his namesake brand to focus on raising his twins and his philanthropic work. However, he soon returned, buying his company back from Brooks Brothers in 2021. Bittar’s re-entrance to the fashion arena is marked by a commitment to inclusivity and celebrating the differences that make us all unique.
At the age of ten, Bittar’s mother, then in her early 30s, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. He recalls how she physically dealt with this. As arthritis expanded throughout her body, she slowly became bedridden – and Bittar became acutely aware of how people responded to her disability.
Bittar witnessed his mother’s issues with being visible in society and the shame that centered around her disfigurement in public. This foundational upbringing shaped how he viewed beauty, femininity and the need to create a space for women to embrace their reality, void of shame and rejection of the current ‘Instagram perfectionism’.
“I have always been interested in creating space for women to have discussions on the reality and not projecting a perfect curated image of life. I always find it way more interesting and real,” said Bittar. “In this project, I wanted to delve into the topic of breast cancer and recovery. Tackling the taboo and shame many women feel post procedures by showing a range of women who are dressed up in their taste as well as the revealing of their beautiful bodies.”
To jump-start the conversation, Bittar created this brave portrait campaign of seven extraordinary women to raise awareness. To raise lifesaving funds, the designer donated 50% of every dollar spent in each of his most recently opened boutiques and his website for 48 hours from October 19 to October 20.
Last year, Bittar reacquired his namesake brand, buying it back from Brooks Brothers. He then went about relaunching the accessories empire he had originally established during the 1990s. He chose Ericka Hart, the activist, educator and professed “cancer warrior” to be one of the faces of his Fall 21’ relaunch. Hart was photographed by Amber Pinkerton and was featured in a compelling yet striking relaunch campaign, wearing only an Alexis Bittar necklace, proudly showing her double mastectomy.
“Ericka amazed me as a person and activist,” he said. “She’s super strong, powerful and the epitome of someone who owns her body and strength. It’s unapologetic, the strength of the recovery.”
This October, addressing Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Bittar felt it pertinent to take his own formative experience as well as his encounter with Hart to further the important conversation. Knowing that breast cancer affects approximately 12.9% of women and having had first-hand experience with friends who have had breast cancer, Bittar felt it was important to further conversations that tackle not only the trauma but also remove the stigma and the challenges women face loving their bodies post-treatment.
“Showing the various women in a place of strength, creating and sharing that information is critical to societal growth” stated Bittar.
The seven women featured in this series of portraits bravely share their stories. Some are women Bittar knows personally and others he recently came to meet through LBBC a nationwide charity focused on supporting women and families affected by breast cancer.
