Karl Lagerfeld

Karl Lagerfeld was one of the most prolific designers working in fashion during the twentieth and early twenty-first century. Producing over twenty collections a year, he was the sole creative force behind major fashion labels Chanel and Fendi as well as his signature label, Karl Lagerfeld. Often described as a “postmodernist,” Lagerfeld’s ability to combine historical references with modern-day trends has contributed to his success in reinvigorating labels and won him much acclaim.

Born in Hamburg, Germany, Lagerfeld developed an affinity for fashion at an early age. In 1954, he competed in an international design competition where he won an International Wool Secretariat award in the coat category. He began his career working for the couturier Pierre Balmain and later Jean Patou, eventually leaving the couture in favor of the ready-to wear business. Believing ready-to-wear offered him greater artistic freedom, he began working as a freelance designer in the 1960s, counting Chloé, Krizia, and Fendi among his clients. In 1962, he began designing fur collections for Fendi. However, it was his designs for Chloé that brought him the most acclaim, and eventually landed him the role of chief designer. By the 1970s, Lagerfeld’s work for Chloé (marked by streamlined silhouettes and striking geometric prints) embraced the mood of the decade and established him as a leading international designer. In 1983, Lagerfeld was hired to design for the House of Chanel and two years later launched his own Karl Lagerfeld and KL lines. Lagerfeld’s talents extend beyond fashion to photography and illustration. He has also designed bottles for Coca-Cola, a piano for Steinway’s 150th anniversary, and he was the first designer to produce a signature capsule collection for the Swedish retailer H&M. “I’m a walking label.” He once remarked, “My name is Labelfeld, not Lagerfeld.” Lagerfeld died in 2019.