|
|
|
|
French Designers |
Since the 18th century, the French have been known for their superiority in European fashion. French designers set the standards of fashion and were responsible for creating a sense of style and haute couture that spread around the globe.
|
|
|
Hermès
What began as a saddle company founded by Thierry Hermès in 1837, turned into a big famous brand name for accessories, fragrances, baby gifts, porcelain items and beach towels. The company was turned around by Thierry's successor Emile-Maurice Hermès who began manufacturing bags and trunks using his family's signature saddle leather and the company grew further under his son-in-law who launched Hermès ties, fragrances and beach towel.
|
The most valued Hermès product is undoubtedly the signature silk scarf worn by celebrities including Queen Elizabeth II, the late Audrey Hepburn, Catherine Deneuve, Sarah Jessica Parker, Madonna and Hillary Clinton. Other popular Hermes products are the Birkin handbags, silk ties and fragrances. The company is still 80 percent family-owned. Hermès stores are located in Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America and Oceania.
Coco Chanel
Considered the most important figure of the 20th century fashion, Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel was born in 1883, and with no formal training in fashion designing went on to create one of biggest and most influential fashion houses of our time. In 1910, she started her first shop, where she sold hats that she sewed herself. Her hats became popular and her name echoed in high circles. Later Chanel designed and sold sportswear.
|
|
|
She opened several shops in Paris and in 1921 launched her first successful fragrance N°5, which remains popular even today. In the years that followed, she designed jewelry, clothes, accessories and created perfumes for men and women. She received the Fashion Oscar in 1957 and even after Coco's death in 1971; her House of Chanel remains one of the top design houses of today.
|
Christian Dior
The creator of the legendary 'New Look', Christian Dior revolutionized French fashion. He was born in 1905 and though he did not study fashion designing, his fashion sketches established him as an haute couture designer. He started out working as a designer for the house of Robert Piguet and Lucien Lelong, but in 1946, with the help of a textile tycoon, Dior established his own couture house. He was the first designer to open a fur department and launch 'designer' perfumes. By 1948, his collections were sold worldwide and his clientele included famous Hollywood stars Rita Hayworth and Ava Gardner, the Duchess of Windsor, Evan Peron and later the late Lady Diana, Madonna and Nicole Kidman. Along with famous clothesline and perfumes, Later the House of Givenchy also launched cosmetics, jewelry, accessories and children's wear.
|
|
|
Givenchy
Hubert de Givenchy, the original bad boy of Paris Haute Couture was born in 1927 in family of art aficionados. He was a French aristocrat but his family had roots in Italy. At a young age, Givenchy knew he wanted to be part of the fashion world and between 1945 -1951; he designed for Jacques Fath, Lucien Lelong and Elsa Schiaparelli, who were well known fashion designers of that time. In 1952, Givenchy set up his own design house and his innovative collections soon became the talk of the town.
|
He was the youngest French designer in Paris at that time and a year later Hollywood starlet Audrey Hepburn became the most important promoter of his fashion. The House of Givenchy also launched cosmetics and skin care products. Today Liv Tyler endorses Givenchy products.
Yves Saint Laurent
He is undoubtedly one of the most successful and influential international fashion designers. Yves Saint Laurent was born 1936 in Algeria and when he was 17 years old, he left home to pursue a career in fashion. He worked for Christian Dior and after his untimely death, Laurent, then 21 years old, was named the head of the house of Dior. In 1962, he stared his own fashion house with his former lover and business partner Pierre Berge. Maintaining the highest standards of classic cuts and tailoring, Laurent made a niche for himself in the world of fashion. His famous designs include Le Smoking tuxedo jacket, see-through blouses and pantsuits among others. He also launched cosmetics, skin care products, jewelry and accessories under his famous brand name YSL.
|
Jean Paul Gautier
Born in 1952, Jean Paul Gautier came to be known as the enfant terrible or bad boy of French fashion. Without any formal training, Gautier made sketches and send them to fashion houses. Pierre Cardin hired him in 1970 and six years later Gautier released his individual collection. He stunned fashion lovers and critics with his innovative iconic cone bra, which he had designed for Madonna's Blonde Ambition Tour in 1990 and he again designed Madonna's wardrobe for her recent Confessions tour. Gautier was highly influenced by street wear and his Haute Couture collections were sophisticated and playful at the same time. Apart from clothes, Gautier also launched famous perfumes both for men and women, which were in great demand not only in Europe but also Australia and U.S.A.
|
André Courreges
Born in 1923, this civil engineer turned fashion designer is known for his ultra modern designs. In the mid-40s, he joined Balenciaga, a famous fashion house, where he fine-tuned his fashion designing techniques and in 1961, set up his own fashion house. Perhaps his engineering skills enabled him to create some of the most daring and radical garments of the 60s. Courrèges' Moon Girl collection, provocative trouser suits in white and silver and the famous white mid-calf boots set him apart from the designers of his time. He is well known for setting the trend of minimalist fashion in France and popularizing the mini skirts. André Courrèges was the first person to introduce Egyptian influences in his designs. At the 1972 Summer Olympics, 15,000 employees wore garment designed by him.
|
|
|
|
|