Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen continue to defy the celebrity clothing line stigma. They have founded and designed clothing ranges at every price point - from the critically acclaimed The Row, and mid-priced Elizabeth and James, to the cut-price Olsenboye collection for JC Penney. Honored last year by the CFDA and the Wall Street Journal for their design capabilities, the twins are taking the fashion industry by storm, and who could forget their $39,000 backpack that sold out?
On starting The Row: “Initially, I wanted someone else to front the brand. We wanted someone else to rep it. But we couldn’t lie. Initially, I wanted someone else to front the brand. We wanted someone else to rep it. But we couldn’t lie. We hired a showroom and talked buyers through. People would drill us about fabric, where we’d make it. Their attitude was, ‘Who do these girls think they are?'"
On their homeless-chic style: “We were called eccentric and eclectic. But we were just two California girls trying to dress for the New York winter.”
On their one style rule: "When we were growing up, our mother taught us never to have your belly button exposed."
MK on their style: "I usually do get the tomboy parts in the movies, which is kind of like me, but not totally. I like to shop as much as Ashley, but she is a little more of a girlie-girl than me."
Ashley: "We've stayed really normal and down to Earth I think, and haven't let the success thing go to our head."