Karl Lagerfeld is part of the BoF 500 (2024)

Karl Lagerfeld wasone of the fashion industry’s most decorated designers, having helmed Chanel since 1983. He designed Chanel's ready-to-wear and couture lines, his own label, and collaborated withSilvia Fendi to create Fendi’s ready-to-wear collections. Celebrated for his renaissance-like intelligence, Lagerfeld’s aesthetic wasimbued with cultural and historical reference points. The designer wasalso an impressive linguist, versed in German, English, French and Spanish.

The son of a wealthy Hamburg businessman, Lagerfeld was born in Germany. Initially educated at St Anne’s school, following his family’s emigration to France Lagerfeld completed his education at Lycée Montaigne, where he focused on drawing and history.

Lagerfeld was hired as Pierre Balmain's assistant after winning the coats category in a design competition sponsored by the International Wool Secretariat in 1955. In 1958, after three years at Balmain, he moved to Jean Patou where was involved in the design of ten haute couture collections. Following a brief stint at Tiziano, a couture house based in Rome, Lagerfeld began to freelance for French fashion house Chloé in 1964. At first Lagerfeld designed a few pieces each season, but soon he was designing the entire collection. In 1965, he began a short design collaboration with Curiel, following which he began his collaboration with Fendi.

In 1982, the chairman of Chanel, Alain Wertheimer, asked Lagerfeld to design for the house. Lagerfeld told The New York Times, “Everybody said, ‘Don’t touch it, it’s dead, it will never come back.’ But by then I thought it was a challenge.” The designer would go on to redefine the house’s codes while paying homage to the Chanel herself, subverting her ideals with his own modern take on her most renowned designs.

Lagerfeld has made cult items of the house’s bouclé tweed, pearls, dual-toned footwear and interlocking C’s for new generations around the globe. In recent years, Lagerfeld conceived Chanel’s métiers d’art, runway shows designed to highlight the craftsmanship of houses such as Desrues, Lessage and Barrie Knitwear, now owned under Chanel’s Parraffection umbrella.

The designer founded his own line, Karl Lagerfeld, in 1984, telling Vogue, “I’ve not been dreaming all my life to have my name over a shop. Now, we’ll put it there because it’s the right moment to do it; and I made this name, why not use it?” Lagerfeld sold the brand to the Tommy Hilfiger group in 2005. He remainedits chief creative and wasdirectly involved in the design process.

In addition to his design talents, Lagerfeld wasalso a photographer and filmmaker, and regularly broughtChanel’s heritage to life through film and imagery; healso shotand creatively directedall of Chanel’s advertising. Lagerfeld livedin Paris with his cat Choupette. He died in Paris on the 19th of February 2019.

Karl Lagerfeld is part of the BoF 500 (2024)

FAQs

What company owns Karl Lagerfeld? ›

The apparel group, which also owns Donna Karan, purchased the remaining 81 per cent of the brand for $210 million.

Is Karl Lagerfeld a high end brand? ›

Although Karl Lagerfeld Paris was founded much later than many of the designer brands we're familiar with, the history and reputation of the brand grants it the coveted luxury status.

Is DKNY and Karl Lagerfeld the same company? ›

About G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.

G-III's owned brands include DKNY , Donna Karan , Karl Lagerfeld , Vilebrequin, G.H.

Which brands did Karl Lagerfeld own? ›

Karl Lagerfeld
LabelsFendi (1965–2019) Chanel (1983–2019) Karl Lagerfeld (1984–2019) Other labels Jean Patou (1958–1963) Chloé (1963–1978, 1992–1997) H&M (2004) Hogan (2011) Macy's (2011) Falabella (2017)
PartnerJacques de Bascher (1971–1989, his death)
ParentOtto Lagerfeld (father)
Websitekarl.com (in German)
6 more rows

Who is replacing Karl Lagerfeld? ›

Virginie Viard, his longtime collaborator for over 30 years and director of Chanel's Fashion Creation Studio, will take over at the creative helm of the brand. Chanel announced the news in a statement today.

Did Karl Lagerfeld owners sell brand to G III in $210 million deal? ›

G-III Apparel Group said on Monday it has agreed to acquire the remaining 81% stake in Karl Lagerfeld for $210 million in cash, becoming the sole owner of the Parisian fashion brand.

What is the number 1 designer brand? ›

The annual report on the most valuable and strongest luxury & premium brands Ranking
20222021Name
11Porsche
23Louis Vuitton
32GUCCI
44Chanel
21 more rows

Is Karl Lagerfeld same as Chanel? ›

Karl Lagerfeld: Coco Chanel's Contemporary Successor

When Karl Lagerfeld took the reins of Maison Chanel in 1983, Coco had been gone for 12 years, and the brand was struggling.

What is the most bought designer brand? ›

According to the results, the top 20 most popular luxury brands in the world for 2023 are:
  • Gucci.
  • Dior.
  • Chanel.
  • Louis Vuitton.
  • Hermes.
  • Rolex.
  • Tiffany.
  • Prada.
Dec 19, 2022

Who owns Chanel after Karl Lagerfeld? ›

A year later: Virginie Viard at Chanel

After Karl's death was confirmed by Chanel, among others, it was also immediately announced that Virginie Viard would take on the creative leadership of Chanel.

Who is DKNY owned by? ›

DKNY – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Does Tommy Hilfiger own Karl Lagerfeld? ›

Karl Lagerfeld will be fully acquired by G-III Apparel Group, a US clothing company that counts Levi Strauss & Co and Tommy Hilfiger in its portfolio, as part of efforts to boost the fashion brand's presence.

Did Karl Lagerfeld create the Chanel logo? ›

The iconic interlocking of Cs on Chanel products was not always a part of the original design. Karl Lagerfeld incorporated it as a tribute to Coco Chanel after her passing.

How rich was Karl Lagerfeld? ›

He was 85 years old. Known as the longtime creative director for Chanel and Fendi, and an icon in the fashion industry, Lagerfeld also led an eponymous fashion label. At the time of his death, he worked on the three brands and had an estimated net worth of $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Who made Karl Lagerfeld shirts? ›

The London tailor responsible for creating Lagerfeld's trademark shirts, Hilditch & Key, told INSIDER that the designer had more than 1,000 of them made. Hilditch & Key also sent INSIDER a number of sketches drawn by Lagerfeld himself for the tailors to work from.

When was Karl Lagerfeld's last Chanel collection? ›

Tuesday morning, Chanel presented its fall 2019 collection, the last designed by the late Karl Lagerfeld, in Paris. Designing for Chanel since 1983, Lagerfeld's final Chanel collection was presented amid a snowy mountain village backdrop.

Did Karl Lagerfeld save Chanel? ›

For a long time, Chanel was mostly known for its perfumes and accessories, but Lagerfeld also focused on the clothes themselves and made sure that they were worn by stars on the red carpet of important events such as the Academy Awards. By doing this, he strengthened Chanel's image as a high-end fashion label.

Why does Karl Lagerfeld always wear glasses? ›

In an interview from 2012, Karl Lagerfeld confided that, during his childhood, his glasses had protected him when he had received an accidentally projected glass of whiskey. He considered that his glasses had then prevented him from losing an eye. Since then, he has worn it regularly.

How much did Chanel pay Karl Lagerfeld? ›

Five years after Lagerfeld joined Chanel, his shows were the hottest ticket in Paris fashion week. His salary rose from a reported $1 million for two Chanel couture collections a year to $1 million for each collection.

Where did Karl Lagerfeld fortune go? ›

Karl's private will remains under lock and key in Monaco. His trusted accountant Lucien Frydlender, who is in charge of counting up all of Karl's assets, is said to have dropped off the face of the world.

Who is running Karl Lagerfeld? ›

PIER PAOLO RIGHI, CEO KARL LAGERFELD. For nearly a decade, Pier Paolo Righi has been leading KARL LAGERFELD as its CEO, and he worked in tandem with Karl Lagerfeld. “We feel honor and responsibility to be the only fashion House in the world that carries Karl Lagerfeld's name on its doorbell,” Righi says.

What is the hottest luxury brand? ›

Gucci is the hottest brand online, again. Its share of search interest continues to decline, however (from 17.5% in 2020 to 15.2% in 2021 and now 14.8% in 2022).
...
The top 15 most popular luxury brands online.
RankBrandIndustry
1GucciFashion
2DiorFashion
3ChanelFashion
4Louis VuittonFashion
11 more rows

What is the highest rated brand? ›

A Full Breakdown of the Most Valuable Brands
RankBrandCountry
1AppleUnited States
2AmazonUnited States
3GoogleUnited States
4MicrosoftUnited States
6 more rows
Oct 27, 2022

Which luxury brand makes the most profit? ›

The Top 10 Most Valuable Luxury Brands in 2022
  • Hermes ($11.7 billion in worldwide revenue)
  • Gucci ($11.1 billion in worldwide revenue)
  • Ferrari ($9.2 billion in worldwide revenue)
  • Rolex ($7.9 billion in worldwide revenue)
  • Dior ($7.8 billion in worldwide revenue)
  • Guerlain ($5.7 billion in worldwide revenue)
Feb 28, 2023

Who did Karl Lagerfeld leave his money to? ›

Among those said to inherit considerable portions of the designer's fortune: his faithful public-relations assistant Caroline Lebar; the model Brad Kroenig and his towheaded 12-year-old son, Hudson, Lagerfeld's godson, whose toddles down the runway in Chanel tweed fans will never forget; Françoise Caçote, “governess” ...

Who created the CC logo for Chanel? ›

“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” The Chanel logo was designed by Coco Chanel in 1925. It's composed of two bold interlaced “C”s that mirror each other. The simple, strong shapes of the letters evoke the authoritative elegance of simplicity based on Coco's philosophy of “less is more.”

What bags did Karl Lagerfeld design for Chanel? ›

Chanel Classic Flap Bag

When Karl joined Chanel in 1983, he reinvented the Chanel Classic Flap which as an old design by Coco Chanel. To this day, the Classic Flap has become the brand's most famous bags.

Which designer brand is best quality? ›

What Are the Best Luxury Brands of 2022? The best luxury brands of 2022 are Dior, Michael Kors, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Nordstrom. Each of these eight luxury brands excels in different areas, such as material quality, fashion design, product variety, or brand popularity.

What is the most known brand of all time? ›

The World's 100 Most Valuable Brands and When They Were Founded Transcript
RankCompanyCountry of Origin
1AppleUnited States
2GoogleUnited States
3MicrosoftUnited States
4AmazonUnited States
75 more rows

What company owns the most luxury brands? ›

LVMH controls around 60 subsidiaries that manage 75 prestigious brands.These include Tiffany & Co., Christian Dior, Fendi, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Loewe, Loro Piana, Kenzo, Celine, Sephora, Princess Yachts, TAG Heuer, and Bulgari.

Who owns Chanel No 5 now? ›

Alain Wertheimer is the chairman of Chanel, the French luxury brand. He owns the company with this brother Gerard, who oversees the watch division. His grandfather Pierre Wertheimer founded it with Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel, the company's namesake.

Who is the biggest Chanel owner? ›

The Wertheimer family fortune dates back to 1920s Paris when Pierre Wertheimer funded designer Coco Chanel. His grandsons, brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, control Chanel today. The brothers have a combined net worth of over $96 billion.

Who is the heir to Chanel? ›

Alain Ernest Wertheimer (born 28 September 1948) is a French billionaire businessman, based in New York City. He is the chairman and a controlling shareholder in Chanel, with his brother Gérard who chairs its watch division.

Is DKNY a high end brand? ›

DKNY, an affordable luxury brand

As an affordable luxury brand, it provides an aspirational brand that gives the look and feel of more high end brands, while still keeping budgets in tact. The price range and quality keep it classified in the low to mid range of the luxury market.

What does DKNY mean slang? ›

Don't Knock New York, and Other Meanings of DKNY.

Who is the queen of Seventh Avenue? ›

Founder and creator of the DKNY label, Donna Karan has been known as The Queen of Seventh Avenue and the creator of capsule wardrobes. Donna Karan has grown to be a full lifestyle brand for men and women.

Who designs for Karl Lagerfeld brand? ›

Two of Karl Lagerfeld's closest collaborators — Hun Kim and Carine Roitfeld — have been entrusted to lead the creative direction of his namesake brand.

What is Karl Lagerfeld most famous for? ›

Karl Lagerfeld was one of the fashion industry's most decorated designers, having helmed Chanel since 1983. He designed Chanel's ready-to-wear and couture lines, his own label, and collaborated with Silvia Fendi to create Fendi's ready-to-wear collections.

Are Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger the same? ›

PVH Corp., formerly known as the Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, is an American clothing company which owns brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Warner's, Olga and True & Co. The company also licenses brands such as Kenneth Cole New York and Michael Kors.

What was the last Chanel bag designed by Karl Lagerfeld? ›

The Chanel 19 was the last major Chanel bag designed by the late Karl Lagerfeld. The Chanel 19 bag for 2019 pays tribute to the elder 2.55 bag created in February 1955 by Coco Chanel. It was first unveiled in March 2019 as part of the Fall/Winter 2019 collection.

What does Karl Lagerfeld have to do with Chanel? ›

To that he added the image of Chanel herself. He also created the double-C logo that became recognizable everywhere, just as the world and the fashion industry were going global, aided by advancements in communication.

What was the first ever designer logo? ›

The first logo ever trademarked was in 1876 for Bass Brewery. It was a red triangle with the “Bass” text beneath, in a sweeping cursive text not dissimilar to Coca Cola's instantly recognizable scrawl.

Did Karl Lagerfeld leave all his money to his cat? ›

It has emerged that the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has left some of his $200m (£153m) fortune to his cat. The German designer, who was the creative director for Chanel and Fendi, died in Paris on Tuesday.

Who owns Karl Lagerfeld cat? ›

According to The Standard, Choupette became part of Lagerfeld's life in 2011. Lagerfeld agreed to catsit Choupette, who then belonged to model Baptiste Giabiconi, and ultimately adopted the feline as his own.

What brands are similar to Karl Lagerfeld? ›

Karl Lagerfeld's competitors and similar companies include AllSaints, APG & Co, The Very Group and Forever 21. Karl Lagerfeld provides fashion designing services. AllSaints is a fashion house creating clothing and accessories for men and women.

Who will inherit Karl Lagerfeld fortune? ›

Among those said to inherit considerable portions of the designer's fortune: his faithful public-relations assistant Caroline Lebar; the model Brad Kroenig and his towheaded 12-year-old son, Hudson, Lagerfeld's godson, whose toddles down the runway in Chanel tweed fans will never forget; Françoise Caçote, “governess” ...

Who owns G III Apparel Group? ›

History. Aron Goldfarb (1924–2012), a Polish-born Holocaust survivor, founded the company as an outerwear brand, G&N Sportswear, in 1956, and in 1972 his son, Morris Goldfarb, current chief executive officer, joined the company.

How much money did Karl Lagerfeld leave his cat? ›

It has emerged that the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has left some of his $200m (£153m) fortune to his cat. The German designer, who was the creative director for Chanel and Fendi, died in Paris on Tuesday.

What brands are in the g3 group? ›

Our Brands
  • DKNY. Owned.
  • Calvin Klein. Licensed.
  • Tommy Hilfiger. Licensed.
  • Karl Lagerfeld. Owned.
  • Donna Karan New York. Owned.
  • Karl Lagerfeld Paris. Owned.
  • Vilebrequin. Owned.
  • G.H.BASS. Owned.

How many brands does apparel group have? ›

Apparel Group is a multi-award-winning global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate based in Dubai, UAE, with operations across the GCC. Today, Apparel Group caters to millions of eager shoppers through its 2025+ retail stores and 80+ brands on all platforms while employing over 18,500 multicultural staff.

Who is the owner of Los Angeles apparel? ›

Los Angeles Apparel is a manufacturer, designer and distributor of clothing based in South-Central Los Angeles. The company was founded in 2016 by Dov Charney, the founder of American Apparel. Los Angeles Apparel is a vertically integrated manufacturer and currently employs over 1500 personnel.

What happened to Karl Lagerfeld? ›

Karl Lagerfeld, a German-born couturier whose reinvention of the luxury fashion house Chanel made him one of the most well-known and influential fashion designers of the late-20th century, died Feb. 19 in Paris. He was 85.

How much is Karl Lagerfeld brand worth? ›

What was Karl Lagerfeld's Net Worth? Karl Lagerfeld was a German fashion designer and photographer who had a net worth of $300 million at the time of his death in February 2019. Lagerfeld began working in fashion professionally when he was 22 years old.

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