Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss is the founder and creative director of Shoshanna, her eponymous collection which debuted in stores in November 1998. Gruss revolutionized dress departments nationwide with the launch of her first collection. Her dedication to fitting and flattering the female body while indulging in whimsical details was a refreshing change from the contemporary offerings of the moment. Gruss continued to make waves in the marketplace with the launch of her swimwear collection in the Spring of 2001. She was the first to pioneer a change in the swimwear industry by selling tops and bottoms as separates with lingerie-inspired sizing.
Gruss was born and raised in Manhattan where she honed her personal aesthetic and developed her eye for the distinctive details that epitomize her collection. After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles with degrees in History and Art History, Gruss eschewed the prescribed career path and chose to explore her interests in fashion at the ground level, working at a lingerie factory. This experience provided an invaluable education in design, fabric sourcing, and garment construction. Armed with her newly acquired knowledge, Gruss created a collection of dresses that spoke to her personal fashion frustrations.
