Rifat Ozbek Rifat Ozbek Rıfat Özbek (, ; born in 1953 in Istanbul, Turkey) is a Turkish-born fashion designer, known for his exotic, ethnically-inspired outfits. He was named British Designer of the Year in 1988 and 1992. Özbek was born in Istanbul, Turkey and grew up in a yali on the Bosphorus. He moved to London in the 1970s and lived in his parents flat in Belgravia whilst he was studying architecture and then fashion at Saint Martin's School of Art. After graduating in 1977 (or 1978), Özbek went to Italy where he designed clothes for Monsoon. In 1984 he established his
Maria Pinto (fashion designer) On October 8, 2014, she invited Pinto to attend her Celebration of Design event at the White House. Pinto has won numerous awards, including the Gold Coast Fashion Award in 1998, "Chicago Magazine"s Best of Fashion Award in 2000, the Legend of Fashion Award from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Anti-Defamation League's Women of Achievement Award, both in 2009. Maria Pinto (fashion designer) Maria V. Pinto (born 1957) is a fashion designer from Chicago, Illinois. She has designed clothing for Oprah Winfrey, the Joffrey Ballet, Marcia Gay Harden, and Michelle Obama. Maria Pinto was born