How It All Started
Les Halles was started by husband and wife, Marlene and Stephen Baum, Marlene’s brother, Larry Goldberg and their good friend Bob McKay. The four had worked together at Faded Glory, which was the best denim company in United States at the time. Recognizing what a successful design, production and sales team they could be, they left Faded Glory and joined forces to launch the original Les Halles in 1979.
Through their immense vision and talent, Les Halles rose to become one of the most influential denim brands in the United States (between 1979 and 1982), creating styles such as: the Baggie Jean, the Paperbag Jean, the Shooting Tuck, the Annie Hall, and the Zip Leg Marilyn, which landed the cover of Women’s Wear Daily on June 2, 1982.
In 1983, Marlene, Stephen, Larry and Bob closed Les Halles for personal reasons.
Stephen went on to become head designer for major brands such as Gasoline, a division of Guess, Jordache and American Eagle Outfitters.
Marlene continued to work in the fashion industry for another ten years before deciding to leave the work force to devote her time to raising her children; Remy, born in 1985, and Dylan, born in 1990.
But little did they know that this would not be the end of Les Halles as they knew it.