About the Designer
Designer BRUCE BOWENS was born and raised in Utica, New York. One of fifteen children, born to Lealer and James Bowens, both Alabama natives who moved to Utica during the great migration.
Bruce realized early on that he had a talent for sketching and was very passionate about the details; he loved the clothing he saw in film noir movies and the very dramatic flair with which they were worn. A seed was planted and he knew then he had to get to New York.
Upon graduating high school, and achieving an Associates Degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising, Bruce finally took the plunge and applied to New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.). While there he learned the art of draping, honed his skills in sketching, and focused on 2 specializations: Current Scene and Eveningwear. His 4 years at F.I.T. earned him an Associates Degree in Fashion Design and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Apparel Production Management.
Post graduation Bruce has worked for several clothing manufacturers including: Denim apparel brands Don’t Stop, and Crest Jeans, The Erez Apparel group, Charming Shoppes, Liz Claiborne, Robbie B Dresses, and his current position at BEREK (an upscale women’s Sportswear importer) His work has been featured in national magazines such as: Vogue, Seventeen, and International Sportswear. His jacket ( worn by actress Natalie Portman) was the feature COVER for Seventeen Magazine. Bruce’s work can also be seen in Neiman Marcus' catalog and Neiman Marcus Online (under the BEREK label.)
By far his greatest hallmark has been designing and creating one of a kind evening and prom dresses for over 30 years under his own label BRUCE BOWENS. His ability to zero in on a women’s body-type, and create something both special and spectacular is what makes him standout as a unique couturier. He has traveled the world to find special fabrics, beading and embroideries; landing in places such as Hong Kong, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, India and Germany just to name a few. His passion for creating beautiful breathtaking dresses, continues to inspire him in all his travels across the globe and back to his home base in Brooklyn, New York.
