The Legend of Fashion – Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld was one of the most acclaimed fashion designers in the world.
He was known for his magical touch on reinvention, having repeatedly transformed himself as well as his labels.
He has been an utmost inspiration to all the designers at Nitte School of Fashion Technology and Interior Design, a top fashion designing college in Bangalore
Lagerfeld was born in Hamburg, Germany. He moved to Paris at the age of 14 and it had been just two years when he submitted a series of sketches and fabric samples to a design competition sponsored by Wool Secretariat in 1955 and eventually won the 1st place in Coat category.
Soon after this he had a full time work with French designer Pierre Balmain. He worked with him for 3 years and later worked as an art director at Jean Patou.
Karl slowly took up every opportunity that came his way and worked at brands like Krizia, Charles Jourdan and Valentino.
Good work followed with Lagerfeld designing collections for Fendi, Chloe and others.
He became highly recognized in the fashion industry for his in-the-moment styles.
In the early 1980s, only a decade after Coco Chanel’s death, Karl joined Chanel. He brought back life to the brand with his ready-to-wear fashion line. On asked about the experience in Chanel, he stated
“Everybody said, ‘Don’t touch it, it’s dead, it will never come back’, but by then I thought it was a challenge”.
In 1984, Lagerfeld launched his own label with a concept he described as “Intellectual sexiness” which he later sold to Tommy Hilfiger.
1997, he was crowned as the “Unparalleled interpreter of the mood of the moment” by Vogue.
In addition to his contributions for clothing, Lagerfeld designed a glassware collection for Orrefors, a Swedish company. While working on this he said, “What I enjoy the most is doing something I’ve never done before”.
In 2010, he was awarded the “Couture Council Fashion Visionary award” from Fashion Institute of Technology, New York.
His work did not end with fashion.
He proved himself in fields of film and photography and frequently brought Chanel’s heritage to life through his film and imagery.
He shot and creatively directed all of Chanel’s advertising.
In 2011, he received the Gordon Parks Foundation award in appreciation of his work as a designer, photographer and film maker. On receiving the award, Lagerfeld said “I’m so proud and so very thankful, but I’m never done”.
Karl Lagerfeld’s legacy came to an end on Feb 19, 2019.
We have lost this legendary designer but will continue to have him through his design that inspires not just the students of Nitte School of Fashion Technology and Interior Design but every designer around the globe.
