Lagerfeld, Karl

(1938- )

   Born in Hamburg, Germany, Lagerfeld began his career as a design assistant at Pierre Balmain and later as an art director at the house of Jean Patou. Unlike his contemporaries, Lagerfeld chose to freelance design rather than acquire his own house, until he formed his own company in 1975. From 1963 to 1983, he designed for Chloé and, in 1965, began designing furs for Fendi. Lagerfeld is best known for revamping and reenergizing the house of Chanel, where he continues as artistic director, since taking the post in 1983. In 2004, he signed a deal with H&M to design an inexpensive line for its stores and, in 2005, sold the global Karl Lagerfeld trademark portfolio and related companies and collections, including Lagerfeld Gallery, to the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation. In 2006, Lagerfeld gave his vote of approval to Apex Partners to purchase Tommy Hilfiger Corporation. This coincided with a Lagerfeld showing in the United States in Bryant Park in 2006. In the same year, Lagerfeld signed a licensing agreement with Spanish bridal manufacturer Rosa Clara to create a Lagerfeld Collection of brid-alwear.