[3] In 2014, Eckstein and the Timo Weiland designers won the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation award for the menswear category.

[7][8] Before completing a degree, Eckstein left school and enrolled at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

[8] Eckstein was studying communications at FIT when he met fellow student Donna Kang and he was later introduced to Tim Weiland.

[9][10] While still a student at FIT, Eckstein was in class when he first found out Women's Wear Daily (WWD) had featured Timo Weiland designs on the front page of its magazine.

[15] Alan Eckstein has described his own style as: "Quirky, tailored, effortless,"[11] and cites his main design inspiration as the streets of New York.