Mac Cosmetics

MAC Cosmetics, stylized as M·A·C, is a cosmetics manufacturer founded in Toronto in 1984 by Frank Toskan and Frank Angelo. The company is headquartered in New York City and became part of the Estée Lauder Companies in 1998. MAC is an abbreviation for Make-up Art Cosmetics. 
During his time as a photographer and makeup artist, co-founder Frank Toskan realized the lack of suitable colors and textures needed to maximize performance and result of makeup for these industries. Further, he realized how limited conventional products in the cosmetic industry were to responding to the needs of the modern woman. For the first time ethnicity in makeup was addressed. Toskan began to craft a niche market in the world of makeup. Family joined forces including brother-in-law and chemist Victor Casale. MAC very quickly cultivated a following in both the fashion and the retail markets. Initially sold exclusively at the BAY in Canada it quickly expanded to Henry Bandel in New York. Nordstrom department stores welcomed the brand soon after marking MAC's first foray into the mass North American retail market. Saks, Macy's, Dillard's, and Bloomingdale's rapidly followed suit as well as dozens of MAC owned stand alone stores. Unsolicited celebrity endorsement was key to MAC's success as Madonna, Mariah Carey, Princess Diana, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Cher, and Janet Jackson embraced this new world of makeup art. MAC continues to be the leader in creative cosmetic innovation worldwide.
The company's products were originally intended for makeup professionals, but are sold directly to consumers worldwide. Frank Toskan stated that he "first manufactured makeup for models, but then the models wanted this makeup for their sisters, friends, and so on... ".