Bill Robinson; Designer of Men’s Fashions

NEW YORK —  Bill Robinson, a menswear designer who worked for some of the biggest names in fashion before heading his own clothing division, died Thursday after what his companion said was a long illness. He was 45.

Beginning in 1986, Robinson’s designs were manufactured and marketed by the Bill Robinson sportswear division of Bidermann Industries, based in Paris.

He worked for various design houses, including Anne Klein, Valentino, Gloria Vanderbilt and Yves St. Laurent and served for several years as chief designer of Calvin Klein’s menswear collection. He left Klein because he said he “wanted to take the line a little over the edge,” with checks, stripes and paisleys while Klein favored a more conservative approach.

Besides his companion, Leo Chiu, he is survived by his parents and two sisters.