Hot on Prada's heels, the divine Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs is, in fashion terms, on fire. Though tiny by comparison with the might of Prada, he is nevertheless seen by some as future pretender to Queen Miuccia's throne.

Since graduating from the New York High School of Art and Design in 1981 and moving on to the Parsons School of Design, the New Yorker has gathered accolades galore and is now artistic director for Louis Vuitton.

Related articles

• Security Chic: the anti-terror handbag
• The devil in Miuccia Prada
• Search the news archive for more stories

The success of the Marc Jacobs brand has generated millions for LVMH - the luxury goods company that owns Louis Vuitton. Of course, this is pocket money in comparison to Prada, whose turnover in the UK alone is £20m. It anticipates its worldwide sales will rise to £1bn by 2010.

But Jacobs's power is undeniable. The opening of his store in Mount Street, London, last week saw celebs arriving in numbers, with Selma Blair, Sofia Coppola and Naomi Campbell among the 800 guests at his party at the Connaught.

His presence at London fashion week and the new store were hailed as a sign that London is starting to regain visibility on the style map. Not to mention his bags, which are now among the most craved by fashionistas everywhere.

Like Prada's Miu Miu line, Jacobs has a lower-priced line, Marc by Marc Jacobs. A spokesman for the Mayfair store said: "It is impossible to say what our top-selling item is, as absolutely everything has been selling at such a rapid rate."

Yet no matter how "in" Jacobs gets, he seems to relish his outsider status, never afraid to pursue something different.