French Luxury

goods
Presented by:
Ankit
Kajal
Kshitij
Tanuj
Why is Paris, France the fashion capital
of the world?
 There are prominent couture houses, the most important fashion shows of the
luxury goods still take place in Paris and most aspiring designers go for learning
and showcasing their work.
How has French fashion influenced the
world?
 French fashion especially the luxury goods has paved the way for many trends
and designers of the world. It began with Charles Fredrick Worth and let to the
likes of Coco Chanel with her eternal ‘Little black dress’ and the iconic ‘Chanel
suit’.
 Paris acts as the center of the fashion industry and holds the name of the “Capitale
de la Mode“. Indeed, the majority of the greatest fashion designers and biggest
names of haute couture.
 Chanel

 In 1909, she was the mistress of a businessman named Étienne

Balsan, got the financial support to open a hat-making shop in
Paris in 1910. Also opened additional stores in Deauville and
Biarritz and began making and selling clothes.
 In the 1920s Coco Chanel became a true style icon, known for
her simple but sophisticated outfits, styled with great
accessories. She introduced the perfume Chanel no. 5. in
1921, the Chanel suit in 1925, and the little black dress in
1926.
 After economic depression and WW II, Coco Chanel decided
to reopen the couture house in 1954. In 1955 she created the
Chanel bag 2.55 that took over the world
 Dior

 Christian Dior was born in 1905 in Granville, Normandy coast of

France. He was passionate about art and wanted to become an
architect. After graduation in 1928, he opened a small art gallery with
the financial help of his father, following the Great Depression,
Christian was forced to close his art gallery. To make some money,
he started working for the fashion designer Robert Piquet. After his
military service in 1940, he got the opportunity to work for the
fashion designer Pierre Balmain. The House of Dior was established
on 16 December 1946 at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris,“La Ligne
Corolie” (“New Look”) is the name of Christian Dior’s first
collection, released in 1947. The New Look was a big success, it
changed the post-WW II fashion scene. Features like rounded
shoulders, a cinched waist, and a full A-line skirt were clearly
revolutionary in the 40s.
 Chloé
 Emblematic of bohemian French
60s and 70s style, Chloé, founded
by Gaby Aghion, was one of the
first ready-to-wear luxury French
brands. Her first fashion show
created for the spring/summer
season of 1958 took place at the
Café de Flore in Saint-Germain-
des-Prés on the left bank of Paris.
Chloé became known for
contemporary romantic styles of
dressing that represented the
modern Parisian woman.
 Popular for its iconic silk bow tie
blouse
 Cartier
 Cartier is a luxury French jewelry
and watches brand founded by
Louis-François Cartier in 1847.
Since then, the brand has created
jewels and tiaras for European
royalty and elite clientele. One of
the most timeless coveted Cartier
pieces is the tank watch, designed
by Louis Cartier in 1917 when he
was inspired by the rigid lines of
the battlefield tanks of World War I.
Its leather wrist strap and Roman
numerals attracted the likes of
Jackie Kennedy to wear it.
 Globally preferred and loved tank
solo watch.
 Lanvin

 Lanvin is one of the most prestigious and oldest Parisian fashion

houses. The story started in 1889 when Jeanne Lanvin who just turned
22 opened her first hat shop on the mezzanine of 16 rue Boissy
d’Anglas.
 The designer began to create clothing for her daughter which was a
real success. In 1908, Jeanne Lanvin opened a children’s clothing
department and devoted an entire section of her store to this new
thriving business. Then, in 1909, the designer opened a Young Ladies’
and Women’s department.
 Jeanne Lanvin became a member of the Chambre Syndicale de la
Couture (the Parisian Fashion Council) and thus switched her status
from milliner to designer.
 Balmain

 For 11 years, 1934-45, and after studying architecture for a

year in Paris, Balmain worked in various fashion houses: at
Robert Piguet, the House of Molyneux, and finally Lelong.
Balmain began his post-war career at the atelier of Lucien
Lelong, where he worked alongside both Dior and Hubert de
Givenchy.
 In 1945, Balmain founded Maison Balmain as a couture
house. Focused quality fashion with the famous Balmain
blazers.
 Balmain was one of the first designers to focus on the
American market, instead of focusing on dressing french
women. In 1953, Balmain expanded into the American
market, showcasing his collections under the name Jolie
Madame.
 Nina Ricci

 In 1932, she founded her haute couture house in Paris at 20 Rue

des Capucines with the help of her husband. Her precision of cut
and choice of noble materials quickly made the Maison a
success.
 Robert Ricci, Nina’s son, created the perfume business in 1941.
The perfume Cœur-Joie, which came in a bottle signed by
Lalique, was the first in what would become a longstanding
collaboration with the crystal maker.
 In 1948, two doves, symbols of love and liberty, appeared on the
bottle of the emblematic perfume L’Air du Temps. It’s one of the
world’s classic fragrances and it stands with Chanel No 5,
Arpège by Lanvin, Joy by Patou, and Shalimar by Guerlain.
 Yves Saint
Laurent
 Algerian-born Yves Saint Laurent
was discovered by influential
French writer and illustrator Michel
de Brunhoff, who introduced him
to Christian Dior. His first job was
as Dior’s design assistant, and he
took over as creative director when
the founder died suddenly in 1957.
Yves Saint Laurent founded his
namesake fashion house in 1961
and launched his first couture
collection.
 He took traditionally masculine
items and made them work for a
new kind of womenswear – one
designed to empower its wearer. Le
Smoking (the tuxedo) remains one
of his signature styles and
celebrities like Bianca Jagger,
Catherine Deneuve, and Nan
Kempner were among the first to
wear it.
 Jean Paul Gaultier

 At age 18, Jean-Paul Gaultier joined the house of Pierre Cardin as an

assistant before moving on to Jacques Esterel and Patou. The debut of
Gaultier’s own collection was in 1976, but he did not officially launch
his own design house until 1982.
 He gained attention due to his unconventional designs, which included
sailor suits, male skirts, and razor-sharp and exaggerated tailoring.
 His first fragrance, Classique was introduced in 1993, followed by Le
Mâle two years later, which was the number one selling men’s
fragrance in Europe for many years.
 Gaultier launched his haute couture line in 1997 which was a huge
success. As a result, In 2003, he became the creative director at
Hermès where he worked until 2011.
 Givenchy
 Hubert de Givenchy born in 1927, started
his fashion career in 1944 as an
apprentice designer at the couture house
of Jacques Fath while studying at the
École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
 Givenchy couture house opened in 1951
and made an immediate mark with his
design of the “Bettina blouse,” a simple
white cotton shirting blouse named for
Fath’s favorite model, Bettina Graziani.
 In 1954, Givenchy designed his first
outfits for the actress Audrey Hepburn.
She was his muse and designed several
creations for her and films: Sabrina
(1954), Funny Face (1957), Breakfast at
Tiffany’s (1961), My Fair Lady (1964).
Givenchy also became known as one of
Jacqueline Kennedy’s favorite designers;
he designed the dress that she wore to
President Kennedy’s funeral.
 In 1969, the designer launched the
“Givenchy Gentleman” line that would
quickly become a reference in men’s
fashion.
 Louis Vuitton

 In 1837, 16-year-old Louis Vuitton arrived in Paris and started

apprenticing for Monsieur Maréchal as a trunk-master, where
he ended up working for 17 years. When in 1852 Napoleon III
gained the title of Emperor of France, his wife, Eugenie de
Montijo, hired Louis Vuitton as her personal box-maker and
packer. In 1854, Louis opened his own box-making and
packing workshop at 4 Rue Neuve-des-Capucines near the
Place Vendome in Paris. In 1858, his business gained
popularity with the introduction of rectangular trunks.
 In the 1900s Louis Vuitton’s son Georges expanded the
business by introducing new bags: the Keepall in 1930, and
the Speedy in 1932. Today bags like Noé, Alma, and Papillon
are still iconic.
 Hermès
 In 1837, Thierry Hermès first
established Hermès as a harness
workshop on the Grands Boulevards of
Paris.
 In the 1930s, Hermès introduced
products that are iconic such as the
Kelly bag (originally called the Sac à
dépêches and renamed as the “Kelly
bag” after Grace Kelly), and the
Hermès carrés (scarves). In 1949, the
first Hermès silk tie and the first
perfume Eau d’Hermès were
introduced. In 1984 the “Birkin bag”
was introduced, after a conversation
between the then CEO Jean-Louis
Dumas and Jane Birkin on a flight from
Paris to London, who articulated to
Dumas that she needed a medium-sized
bag. Today the Birkin bag is one of the
most iconic bags of all time.