Zoltán Herczeg (born September 24, 1972 in Szerencs) Hungarian fashion designer, brand and company owner, founder of "Herczeg Fashion House" – 1997 and "Herczeg Empire" – 2014. His professional career sprung from early provocative party design and unique, custom-made stage costumes for mainstream Hungarian artists and musicians. As his name and status evolved and his collections began to be reckoned with, he was often asked to design and produce outfits for well known worldwide brands. Spanning through a decade and a half his career elevated him to be one of the best known names in Hungarian design circles. Known for his zest and notoriously rampant creative drive he is in constant search for the truly self-defining path. His collections and fashion shows never lack in exuberance and shock value, re-inventing himself every time despite the unusually high number of events (3–4 shows per year). His inspiration is rooted in various branches of art – music at the top – and in a famously hedonistic outlook on life often leaning towards sarcasm and self-irony. A favorite with reporters and journalists he needs no more than a microphone to open up on his views with often unvarnished bluntness. An avid traveller he kept his fans engaged from London, Paris, Peking and Bangkok first through his personal blog, later on his own website. He is a frequent personality on TV, radio, in universities, in Madrid and Milano.In 2009 he receives a surprise phone call: Michael Madsen is in his store and in urgent need of designer clothes to receive a movie award in Portugal the next day. The movie star is so taken with "Herczeg"'s unique style that they immediately strike both a personal and professional bond. A few days later on a business lunch in a Budapest restaurant their fashion brand is born called "Badass by Michael Madsen". Life Childhood Born September 1972 in Szerencs, Hungary. Growing up in a peaceful and loving family he preferred to dedicate his time to reading, drawing and creating at home rather than hanging out with friends after school. His first "fashion statement" is an outfit for a favorite Teddy Bear, followed by satchels for small items, small bags stitched together from scraps on his mother's sewing machine, later cutting up jeans just to create bags. He's an all A student. Later studies in High School specialized in Commerce, and falls in love with Rock music