Gabrielle Chanel

Birth: 1883
Place of birth: Saumur, Southern France
Couture line: Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel

Gabrielle Bonhuer 'Coco' Chanel was a premiered French fashion designer. She had attained a prominent position in the fashion industry around the globe. Chanel redefined women fashion completely stressing more on simplicity, elegance and comfort. Her line of clothing had not only created waves on the ramp but had managed to evade onto every wardrobe. She had foreseen the modern trend too early and played a substantial role in changing fashion industry from conventional to contemporary yet keeping it stylish, elegant and easy.

Early life
Gabrielle Bonhuer Chanel was in 1883 in was born in Saumur, Southern France and was brought up in a French orphanage. The designer was not a part of any royal family as it is rumored. She adopted the name Coco during a brief career as a cafe and concert singers 1905-1908. In the year 1912 she was assisted by a wealthy aristocrat Arthur Chanel who funded her shop which was operational in 1913. This was her first attempt to enter into the fashion world with a hat shop. But it was only in 1920 when things actually started happening in favor of her. It was during the time of Great depression that she acquired the shop in Cambon Road which is still operational today. It only took a matter of few years and by mid twenties her designs grew in fame as well as were globally accepted. Following it, came two more boutiques in Paris and Bairritz. She was still working in 1971 when she died. j

Promotions and success
The influence of Chanel was much greater in the mid 1920's. She brought a revolution in the fashion world of women by bringing in the Chanel suit which became an immensely popular fashion statement. She also brought in black dress which were so designed that it was perfect on any part of the day. It was Chanel who also introduced 'costume' jewellery to the world of fashion, using a variety of accessories such as necklaces, chains or pearls of several strands. But it was Chanel No. 5 - considered the number-one selling perfume in the world - which helped her become a millionaire. The perfume was created in 1921 by Ernest Beaux at the request of Chanel. Her influence on apparel designing was such that she was the only person in the field to be named on TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people of the 20th century. She had found a new market in Americans who had acknowledged her designs even when the Parsian's refused to accept her due to her involvement with a Nazi officer

Brand and clientele
Known to bring in a major fashion transformation in the fashion world Chanel was actively involved in replacing corset with the more comfortable and sexier clothing. She brought a revival in the fashion world not only with apparels but also with perfumes which became the highest selling perfume ever. Chanel is a member of Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture et du Pret-a-Porter. In 1969, a Broadway musical, Coco, starring Katharine Hepburn, was based on Chanel's life. Surprisingly, Chanel acquired in mid-1997 the French, well-known beach-wear specialist Eres. Karl Lagerfeld has been chief designer of Chanel's fashion house since 1983. In addition to her work with high fashion, she also designed stage costumes for such plays as Cocteau's Antigone (1923) and Oedipus Rex (1937) and film costumes for several movies, including Renoir's La Regle de Jeu.