Mary Jane Marcasiano

Early life and education

Marcasiano was born in East Hanover, New Jersey and later attended Hanover Park High School, but left a year early to attend Montclair State University. After two years at the university, she left Montclair to attend Parsons The New School for Design.

While in still in art school, Marcasiano studied weaving and she started selling handwoven handbags, scarves, and accessories in New York.

Early career

While attending Parsons, Marcasiano moved to the Soho area of Manhattan, a neighborhood that played an important role in her creative development and business approach. Recognized as one of the young downtown emerging designers she showed her first collection in 1979 at the Susan Caldwell Gallery in SoHo. In the early ‘80s Marcasiano became a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and was the awarded the Cartier, DuPont, Cutty Sark and Wool Knit Awards.

Creative aesthetic

Marcasiano's design philosophy comes from a desire for comfort in her knitwear by using simple shapes. She would like her designs to be worn from the morning into the evening, in warm to cold weather, from sexy to serious. This comfort is achieved by combining Lycra-blend stretch fabrics into more traditional knitwear. Color chosen and matched for the type of yarn to enhance the impact of the color.

Marcasiano is currently inspired by Brazil and Africa, the countries she works with on her Made With Love Project. “I work in a lot of mediums these days,” says Marcasiano, “But the common thread for me is Brazil, a country and people which continually inspire me.”

Company

Marcasiano formed her eponymous company in 1979 with her first womenswear collection and introduced a menswear line in 1980. In 1985 she licensed her name to shoes, furs and jewelry produced in Italy.

Marcasiano's business was purchased by Hampshire Designs in 1995 and was later acquired by Marisa Christina in 1998.

Marcasiano's designs have been sold in boutique, specialty and department stores around the globe and featured in Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and other fashion magazines.

Involvement in the Arts

Marcasiano has designed costumes for DanceBrazil, the New York City Ballet, RythMEK at Jacob’s Pillow, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Michael Thomas Lab and for the short film “ Até Quando“. In 2009 Marcasiano collaborated with renowned artist Eric Fischl on costumes for his suite of sculptures titled “ Ten Breaths “ which was exhibited in Germany, Paris and New York. Marcasiano designed the costumes for the 2010/2011 world tour of Grammy award winning singer Angelique Kidjo and was costume designer for the PBS Special "Angelique Kidjo and Friends: Spirit Rising". In 2013 Marcasiano designed costumes for the feature film “Reaching for the Moon” directed by Bruno Barreto.

In 2002, Marcasiano produced “Ginga”, a documentary film about Capoeira directed by Gustavo Moraes. She currently serves as Director of Development and Special Events Advisor to Cinema Tropical, a non-profit foundation that distributes and promotes Latin American cinema in the United States. She was the programmer for Cinema Tropical’s Music+Film series at 92YTribeca and directed their Brazilian film initiative Janeiro in New York.

Social Entrepreneurship

In 2007 Marcasiano created the Made With Love Project, a non-profit global initiative dedicated to raising funds and awareness for NGOs aiding women and children in need. The project is supported through the production and sale of products that provide a fair income for women in Brazil, Africa and Haiti. Made With Love does their works through the Cygnet Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit public foundation.

Marcasiano also works with women's co-operatives in developing countries, particularly in Africa and South America, facilitating the sale and distribution of the products to a global market through web sales and strategic marketing alliances. The Made With Love Project directs the net proceeds received from the sale of those products to relevant children's charities in the region of the product’s origination.

Exhibitions and Permanent Collections

Filmography

Personal life

Marcasiano lives in New York with her husband, photographer Ralph Gibson.