Hubert de Givenchy Famously associated with Audrey Hepburn, Hubert de Givenchy initially studied law before entering the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. The designer worked alongside Pierre Balmain, Christian Dior and Elsa Schiaparelli, before opening his house in 1952. He was among the first to recognise the power of enlisting a film star as an ambassador …
Hubert de Givenchy (1927-2018): The Creator of Elegance Read More »
Pierre Cardin The fashion industry has a before and after Pierre Cardin moment, because he created the business model of licensing and mass production. His style and fashion sense were futuristic, and just like his unique signature design, he also had a futuristic business sense. At a time, when fashion was considered exclusive, to be …
Pierre Cardin (1922-2020): The Designer of Tomorrow Read More »
Emilio Pucci The name Pucci conjures up images of psychedelic and very distinct prints. Emilio Pucci almost fell into fashion, but this doesn’t mean, his success was accidental and by no means, overnight. He had an impeccable understanding of cultural changes that were taking place, and he knew his customers extremely well. His aristocratic background …
Emilio Pucci (1914-1992): The Accidental Fashion Icon Read More »
Pierre Balmain In the very early days of his career, Balmain received praise from intellectuals who attended his first fashion show, and his first collection was photographed for Vogue by Cecil Beaton. While on the surface it looked like, Pierre Balmain had a meteoric and sudden rise to fashion, the reality is that nothing about …
Pierre Balmain (1914-1982): The Creator of the New French Style Read More »
Jacques Fath Born in France in the early 20th century, Fath grew up in a time of turmoil and unrest. Captured by the Nazi army, Fath eventually returned to Paris and was able to draw on the support of fellow Parisians opposed to the Nazi regime to build a following. In 1937, Fath launched his …
Jacques Fath (1912-1954): The Parisian Who Captivated the Elite Read More »
Cristóbal Balenciaga A seamstress’s son who was born in a fishing village, Cristobal Balenciaga rose to become the designer’s designer, admired by many of his peers, including Coco Chanel. When we look back at his life and career, we see someone who had no formal training as a fashion designer, yet came to dominate the …
Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972): The Man Who Created the Future of Fashion Read More »
Claire McCardell Before Donna Karan, there was Claire McCardell who paved the way to relaxed, chic, and American fashion. She was a visionary designer with a distinct style, who experimented with different fabrics and encouraged women to dress more freely in the postwar era. Her style coincided with the rise of the ready-to-wear market that …
Claire McCardell (1905-1958): The American Fashion’s Female Entrepreneur Read More »
Hattie Carnegie Hattie Carnegie is one of the iconic American designers, who has recreated herself by choosing her own identity and name, as well as designing collections that captured the interest of Americans who wanted more than French designer copies. Truly a fashion entrepreneur, who had a strong sense of business as well as style. …
Hattie Carnegie (1886-1956): The Creator of Self and Fashion Read More »
Salvatore Ferragamo Salvatore Ferragamo, the inventor of the wedge, is the brand worn by women from Marilyn Monroe to Margaret Thatcher, and the only label ever to hold a fashion show in the Louvre Museum. He was a novice Italian shoe designer who began his career as an apprentice to a shoemaker. With a vision …
Salvatore Ferragamo (1898-1960): From Humble Beginnings to Hollywood and Beyond Read More »
Both as an academic and fashion entrepreneur, I have always been curious to find out what creates a successful fashion business, and for many years devoured books on the topic: from memoirs of fashion editors, designers, and stylists to coffee books of the likes of Tom Ford, Valentino, Paul Poiret and so on. I am …
10 Must-Read Books for the Fashion Enthusiasts and Entrepreneurs Read More »
