Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen, collectively known as the Olsen twins, are an American duo famous for their roles in the ABC sitcom, Full House. At the age of just nine months old, they were cast in the show, working throughout its entire run, right up to its finale in 1995. Given the fact that America has pretty much watched them grow up on TV, the girls are considered princesses of the ‘90s, starring in other films and TV shows during the decade and going on to appear in many more shows in the 2000s.
Mary-Kate and Ashley had a fan club, called Mary-Kate and Ashley’s Fun Club where fans paid to get photos and other collectibles from the twins. Each subscription also included a Funzine issue, a collectibles catalog, lyrics sheets to their songs, a poster, a membership card, and much more cool stuff from the duo.
As they grew older, the twins expressed more interest in the fashion industry, with Mary-Kate forging a path to becoming a fashion icon. The twins have since launched their own couture fashion label, The Row. They also received the 2012 and 2015 awards for Womenswear Designer of the Year, a title bestowed upon them by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
In 2012, the duo collaborated with Damien Hirst, a controversial English artist, for nine limited-edition bags worth $55,000 each. The backpacks feature a slick black patent leather design made from Nile crocodile skin and are embellished with dots and pills. Only 12 pieces were produced for each style and the twins plan to donate a portion of the profits to Unicef. Take a look at the designs from the collaboration:
The Olsen twins have proven time and time again that their designs are unique and highly in demand, and their pieces are known to sell out instantly. Considering the original backpack design, initially sold without Hirst’s embellishments, flew off the shelves at $39,000 each, one can only imagine how fast these babies will go.
Truly, the Olsen twins were at the top of their game in the ‘90s and there’s no sign of them slowing down or stopping anytime soon. They ruled the entertainment industry as kids with their acting prowess, and now they’ve taken charge of the fashion industry with their gorgeous designs and iconic style.