The Legacy and Impact of Liz Claiborne on Women’s Fashion Industry Liz Claiborne Early Life Career Liz Claiborne was born in Brussels, Belgium on March 31, 1929. Her family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana when she was young. She was always interested in fashion, design and art as she grew up. After graduating high school, Liz studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. Here, she developed her style and honed skills. She graduated from the school in 1949 and started working in New York’s garment district. Liz worked with several different companies designing women’s apparel