Luscious Lingerie

At the time, she knew nothing about lingerie. But that job was the beginning of what would become a multimillion-dollar career as a designer with licensees including Ralph Lauren, Lilly Pulitzer, Oscar de la Renta, Jockey and Betsy Johnson. Now, almost 40 years later, Crain's New York Business recognizes Carole Hochman Design Group as New York's seventh largest woman-owned company, based on $160 million in revenue. That places Hochman between Eileen Fisher Inc. and Daffy's on the list.
While at Bergdorf, Hochman met Betty Hughes, a buyer with Bonwit Teller. Hughes became a lifetime mentor and encouraged Hochman to become a designer. The hard-working Hochman soon earned the opportunity to design sleepwear for Bonwit Teller. She knew little about garment construction or the fabrics used to produce them. Nevertheless, Hochman scored on her first try, launching her career in the world of intimate apparel. The following year, 1968, she went to work as lead designer for the Christian Dior intimates license, then owned by parent company Chevette.