Industry Fashion Website www.garosparo.com | Founder Garo Sparo | |
Headquarters New York City, United States | ||
Garo Sparo is an American, New York City based couture design house. Its founder and head designer Garo Sparo works with many of NYC's most colorful characters and renowned fashion icons. Sparo is also a television personality who stars on Unleashed by Garo broadcast on Sundance Channel.
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Biography
Garo Sparo was born into a creative family of skilled artisans working mostly in beadwork and lacemaking. He grew up on the south shore of Long Island, and began creating clothing at the age of eleven under the direction of a Native American costume designer. In his teens he relocated to North Carolina and started designing hats, selling them at various venues under the name Garo Sparo Collection. In 1995 Absolut Vodka sponsored one of Sparo's collections, bringing him wide visibility in New York. This collection was followed by fashion shows at NYC nightlife venues The Limelight, Webster Hall, Click+Drag and Jackie 60.
In 2000 he opened the Garo Sparo Boutique on St. Mark's Place in Manhattan. At this time he began to focus heavily on corsetry and custom couture. HIs clientele rapidly grew to include many burlesque and drag icons such as Miss Understood, Hedda Lettuce, Angie Pontani, World Famous *BOB* and Sequinette. He also has many clients who collect his custom day and evening wear such as fashion icon Daphne Guinness. Garo's designs have also been featured in commercials, films, dance performances and art installations. He is the resident designer for New York production company and sister organization Screaming Queens Entertainment.
Unleashed by Garo
Unleashed by Garo is a six-episode television series about Garo Sparo and the world of fashion and design that debuted on Sundance Channel on September 9, 2011. It also debuted the same day on the Canadian Sundance channel. In each episode, three clients visit Garo's New York City studio to express themselves through fashion and be transformed through his expertise. Participants vary from society brides looking for unique gowns, to performers seeking eye-grabbing stagewear.