The Famous Designers of Fashion: Destiny or Choice?

The stories of the greatest luxury fashion brands have been of interest to millions, and we at Fashion Finder are no exception. Great movies and books have told us the road to success of the iconic persons behind each label. Here we will look at the question “Fashion: Destiny or Choice?” for the top brands and their creators, taking a peek of how their fashion career has started – by choice, where the fashion career was actively pursued with education and training, or by destiny where becoming a world-known luxury brand ‘just happened’.

Gucci

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Guccio Giovanbattista Giacinto Dario Maria Gucci founded the House of Gucci in 1921 in Florance, Italy. His inspiration came from his teenage work at the Savoy Hotel in London, where he admired the elegance of the guests, especially their leather luggage bags. He had the mind and the talent to understand precisely the tastes and likes of the rich customers, which was a stepping stone for the empire Guccio was about to build. Coming from a family of leather craftsmen, Gucci started as a family-owned shop for leather bags, with the first handbags introduced in 1937. The Gucci bag was trademarked at the time with the “cuoio grasso” technique for tanning the material.

The sons of Gucci later extended the product line to also offer Gucci jewelry and other accessories, as well as boots for the local military for the World War II. As leather became scarce, the company started producing handbags out of cotton canvas. However, the canvas stood out due to a distinctive double-G symbol and pronounced red and green bands known as the Gucci Web, Sylvie Web, the Double G and the Gucci Bee – still symbolizing the brand even today. The Gucci loafer has marked the history of shoes with such a prominent mark, that it’s part of the permanent collection of the New York Museum of Modern Art. The Gucci family opened international branches, to elevate the brand to what we now know as Gucci.

Thus, we believe the Gucci brand was created by destiny.

Unfortunately, since 1993 the family of Gucci is no longer involved in the company after a movie-like series of scandals, feud and even murder (actually, in 2021 a movie was launched called “House of GUCCI” ). After passing through the hands of LVMH https://www.lvmh.com/, nowadays, Gucci is part of the Kering luxury goods corporation, which owns the luxury fashion brands Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, and Yves Saint Laurent.

Prada

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Prada was founded as Fratelli Prada in 1913 by Mario Prada in Italy, and offered leather goods. But it was only after Miuccia Prada inherited the company in 1978 that it became a premium status symbol in the 1990s. With her original ideas in designing women clothes, bags, shoes and accessories, offering men fashion as well, and the support of her husband and business partner, Miuccia pulled the brand to the top of the list in luxury fashion.

Just recently (in the beginning of December 2022) it was announced that Miuccia Prada will retire from her roles in Prada and Miu Miu in the beginning of 2023, and Andrea Guerra, a former CEO of Luxottica and LVMH’s hospitality division, will take her place (1).

Having a degree in political science, and inheriting the business from her family, Miuccia’s success was more a destiny than a choice.

Salvatore Ferragamo

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The young Salvatore Ferragamo made his first pair of shoes when he was only 9 years old, and new immediately that this is his vocation. He later studied shoe-making in Naples, worked in a cowboy boot factory in the US, and later even studied anatomy to ensure his shoes are not only beautiful, but also comfortable. Ferragamo’s shoes have been appreciated by many celebrities, including Eva Peron and Marilyn Monroe. Later the company, named Salvatore Ferragamo after his founder, began producing ready-to-wear for men and women and licenses eyewear and watches.

Ferragamo pursued his calling from a young age, thus we rank his success as made by choice.

Fendi

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The house of Fendi is another family-ran company, launched in 1925 by Adele and Edoardo Fendi as a fur and leather shop in Rome, Italy. As this was a decision made by the couple, we believe it is a matter of choice – and a right one, too.

The legendary Karl Lagerfeld joined Fendi in 1965 as the creative director of the fur and women’s ready-to-wear collection of the Italian luxury fashion brand. It was a family business ran by the 5 daughters of Adele and Edoardo till 1999 when Prada and LVMH purchased 51% of the company.

The label is a symbol of luxury and quality. Its double F logo is unmistakable and a magnet for celebrities and wealthy ladies of style.

Today, the Fendi brand is quite popular in the pre-owned segment, especially for its bold handbags – the Fendi Baguette being the most famous model.

As there are controversies regarding the future use of fur, the company may need to change its course in order to remain the fashion legend it has been so far. For the moment, Fendi are not ready to give up this segment of their portfolio, but are stating that the animals are treated in a humane manner, as opposed to many other companies producing fur goods.

Saint Laurent

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Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent was designing dresses for his mother and sisters by his early teens and at the age of 17 moved to Paris and enrolled at the trade association of high fashion by design clothing. Saint-Laurent’s talent was discovered by Christian Dior, and not long after, at the age of 21, he was appointed head designer of the House of Dior. In 1961 the brand Saint Laurent was founded together with his partner, Pierre Bergé. After turbulent years and the death of Yves Saint-Laurent, the ready-to-wear line would be rebranded as Saint Laurent.

Being regarded as one of the foremost fashion designers in the 20th century, Saint-Laurent has chosen and strived for his place in luxury fashion his whole life.

Givenchy

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Founded in 1952 by Hubert James Taffin de Givenchy, who came from a noble family, with artistic professions and own tapestry factories on one side of his family. Givenchy studied in a prominent art school in Paris, and later created designs for famous fashion designers of his time, working together with Pierre Balmain and Christian Dior. The French luxury fashion and perfume house has been favorite of numerous celebrities, the most famous ambassador of the brand was Audrey Hepburn.

For Hubert de Givenchy we believe it is more choice than destiny to become one of the most prominent designers of our time.

Coming up next:

In our next articles we will continue our quest with brands, such as: Chanel, Versace, Balmain, Balenciaga, Kenzo, Alexander McQueen, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford, Berluti, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Comme Des Garcons, Dior Homme, Calvin Klein, Brioni, Ralph Lauren, Valentino, Paul Smith, Ermenegildo Zegna, Hugo Boss, DSquared2, Stella McCartney, Thom Browne, Lacoste, DKNY, Diesel and more…

Please, share with us if you would like us to include other brands – just email us at info@fashionfinder.online.