The Olsen Legacy

Growing up in the 90's, Mary-Kate and Ashley were the ultimate idols for tweens and teens. I had everything they sold from movies to games to dolls to clothes; if it was Mary-Kate and Ashley related, I wanted it. They’ve already left their mark on the world and continue to succeed and inspire people globally. Now in their 30’s, the notoriously private twins have created an empire from the ground up that very few can rival.

The Olsen twins got their big break in 1987 at six months old on "Full House" where the duo shared the role of Michelle Tanner for eight years. In 1992, they starred in their first made for TV movie "To Grandmother's House We Go". By the time "Full House" had come to an end in 1995, Mary-Kate and Ashley had starred in four made for TV movies, made a cameo in a feature film, and started a video series called "The Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley". From 1995 until they took a step back from acting in 2004, they made 13 movies, 3 television shows, and made cameos in many shows and movies. In 2004, the Olsens became co-presidents of Dualstar Entertainment Group which produced all of their movies and television series since 1993. The, at the time, child actors created Dualstar alongside their manager Robert Thorne. Even though they haven’t starred in a movie since “New York Minute” in 2004, they refocused Dualstar and used it as an avenue to release products and home goods geared towards teens.

In 2004, Mary-Kate and Ashley decided to switch their focus to their true passion which was fashion. The two have said they always had a designer's eye, and have had to tailor clothing to fit them their entire lives because of how petite they are and that has given them the edge in fashion. The duo teamed up with Walmart and launched the Mary-Kate and Ashley collection in 2004 which was fashion for girls aged 4-14. This quickly became one of the most popular launches at Walmart and they expanded to accessories, beauty products, and more. In 2006, the Olsens created their high end fashion label, The Row, and in 2007 their mid-range label, Elizabeth & James, which is now exclusively at Kohl's.

Along with creating incredible fashion labels, Mary-Kate and Ashley have been trendsetters in fashion for quite some time. During their time at NYU, the two were consistently spotted wearing outfits styled in what would become known as hobo-chic. They wore many layers underneath oversized outerwear and large sunglasses while carrying large handbags. The style was mocked by some, but became a large part of many other’s personal style. Their style influence has been noted around the globe for decades. Maxine Wally recently wrote an article for W magazine stating Mary-Kate and Ashley’s work in the early 2000’s set the trends for Gen Z today. But it’s no secret they’ve been style influencers since before they hit double digits.

With business and work ethic basically being engrained in them from a very young age, it’s no surprise that they were millionaires by the age of 10. While the Olsens have tried to stay largely out of the limelight, it’s obvious that they are still a major part of celebrity culture. Being Hollywood royalty and fashion icons, the two are still in high demand in many facets of the celebrity world. From red carpets to street wear, the world still looks to them for the next big thing. They’ve left an entire generation with fond memories of their childhood and are creating an even bigger legacy in fashion.