In 1969 Merrill Lowell began a 17-year partnership with another well-respected Beverly Hills furrier, Duffy Edwards. Together they pioneered Rodeo Drive as the center of international fashion opening their new salon, Edwards-Lowell, on the site of what is now Gucci. Along with famous clothing couturier Amelia Grey they were the first to open major salons on this now legendary "street of dreams".

In the early 1980's Lowell bought out Edwards retaining the name Edwards-Lowell. As Rodeo rents skyrocketed they moved to a new custom-built salon on Camden providing more space for their expanding manufacturing and design studio. Together with Nolan Miller they created a fur fashion collection based on and used extensively in the hit television series "Dynasty".