For many decades, Karl Lagerfeld has been widely regarded as one of the most influential individuals in the world of fashion. With an outstanding trajectory, Lagerfeld was acclaimed by many as a design genius.
The fashion industry just lost a major icon and idol after the Kaiser of fashion, Karl Lagerfeld passed away on February 19th. Lagerfeld, who had been the creative director of Chanel since 1983, left a legacy of ideals in fashion for future generations. Lagerfeld was born to a wealthy German entrepreneur father and a Swedish mother in 1933. The future designer studied drawing and history at the prestigious Lycee Montaigne in Paris. After working on several sketches to submit to design competitions, he won first place for a coat design alongside Yves Saint Laurent, another fashion icon. Forward past the competition, the young Lagerfeld was hired as an assistant to Pierre Balmain. After three years of direct experience in the fashion industry, he later moved to Jean Patou, where he captained the design of several collections. In 1964, Lagerfeld began designing for Chloé, in which he rapidly moved from designing a few pieces onto a full collection. A couple of years after, in 1967, his long-lasting collaboration with Fendi began.
Lagerfeld’s multi-faceted personality combined with this great talent, created some of the most innovative and impactful collections and trends in the fashion industry. He founded his eponymous label under his own name in 1984, which is now known as one of the most exclusive and acclaimed brands worldwide. Lagerfeld’s creativity couldn’t have been secluded to fashion, he was also an artist at heart and was passionate about photography and film-making. Besides this, Lagerfeld owned several bookstores in Paris and had written many personal pieces as well. His extravagant personality has often left an impactful positive mark on the individuals that crossed his path or were privileged enough to have been mentored by this well-known fashion icon. Following his passing, Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH commented “I will always remember his immense imagination, his ability to conceive new trends for every season, his inexhaustible energy, the virtuosity of his drawings, his carefully guarded independence, his encyclopedic culture, and his unique wit and eloquence. The death of this dear friend deeply saddens me, my wife and my children. We loved and admired him deeply. Fashion and culture has lost a great inspiration.”
Even though Lagerfeld was born in Germany, he has been associated with Paris for most of his life, the world’s fashion capital. It is undeniable that Lagerfeld’s mark on the fashion industry will never be forgotten, and many people have expressed their deep condolences and admiration toward what is now a legend among the world’s most acclaimed lost fashion idols. Alain Wertheimer, CEO of CHANEL, said: “Thanks to his creative genius, generosity and exceptional intuition, Karl Lagerfeld was ahead of his time, which widely contributed to the House of CHANEL’s success throughout the world. Today, not only have I lost a friend, but we have all lost an extraordinary creative mind to whom I gave carte blanche in the early 1980s to reinvent the brand.”
Featured Image Credit: Siebbi
