Fashion Designer Karl Lagerfeld was born in 1938 in Hamburg, Germany, to a wealthy family. He went to Paris in 1952, where he studied informally, with the ambition to be fashion designer, until he won a prize for a wool coat from the Wool Secretariat in 1954 (the same contest in which Yves Saint Laurent won an award for a dress).



Lagerfeld first worked for Pierre Balmain (1954-57), then in 1958 he moved to House of Patou. For a while, he freelanced at Krizia. He worked for Chloe in 1959-78, during which time he began designing furs for Fendi (in 1965) and also launched his company, Parfums Lagerfeld (in 1975). Lagerfeld designed independently from 1978 to 1982, when he began designing haute couture at the House of Chanel. In 1983, with the help of Gilles du Four, he added Chanel ready-to-wear garments to his list of responsibilities.

Although he continued to design for Chanel, Lagerfeld established his own design business in 1984 and resumed designing for Chloe in 1992. The engagement with Chloe ended in 1997, when design at Chloe was took over by ex-Beatle Paul's daugther Stella McCartney. Lagerfeld currently designs for three companies: his own label, Chanel, and furs for Fendi of Italy.

His signature line, which is developed from sketches, features very structural and dramatic women's wear, mostly in black and white. He featured the "Wunderbra" and the "Wundercorset" in 1994.

As an avid photographer, Lagerfeld often shoots his own press photos, and is sometimes called "Kaiser Karl" by the press. His personal trademarks include a fan, a long ponytail for his powdered-white hair, and sunglasses. He is a uniquely confident man and speaks German, French, English, and Italian.

Lagerfeld is a member of Chambre Syndicale du Pret-a-Porter in Paris.
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Selected Products

* Karl Lagerfeld Couture
* KL by Karl Lagerfeld
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Selected Awards

* Neiman-Marcus Award (1980)
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Economic Data
Ownership
The Karl Lagerfeld S.A., responsible for products under the Karl Lagerfeld label was bought in 1992 by the British Dunhill Holding Plc group, which is part of the Vedome Group, which again belongs to the Richemont Holding from Switzerland and managed by Lord Douro. The price of the deal was allegedly $26 million. The Vendome Group is also the parent company to Chloe, of which Lagerfeld used to be also head of design. In early 1997, Vendome sold back all rights to the Lagerfeld label to Lagerfeld himself.

Performance
Economic information on the Lagerfeld businesses are scarce, there were fashion sales estimated in 1991 to be around $18 million. 80% of sales are said to be gained by exports.

Distribution
In 1996, there were 230 exclusive Lagefeld boutiques around the world. Next to his own shops, Lagerfeld is sold in other exclusive boutiques and department stores.

Production/ Licenses
Current licenses include men's wear, neckties, scarves, shoes (Charles Jourdan S.A.), sunglasses, watches and jewelry, furs (Revillon), interior fabrics and wallpapers, and carpets.

In 1996, Lagerfeld licensed a lingerie and beachwear collection to the German lingerie specialist Furstenberg. The partnership was ended after just one season, because of different opions towards the styling of the collection.

In 1988, an unsual alliance brought together the German mass market apparell manufacturer Steilmann and Karl Lagerfeld to produce in license his diffusion line called "KL by Karl Lagerfeld". In 1996, Lagerfeld arranged with the Italian Gruppo Selene to produce in license a line called "Karl Lagerfeld". This movement led to the divorce between Steilmann and Lagerfeld. Starting Fall 1996, the German home order-giant Quelle will include the "KL by Karl Lagerfeld"-line in his catalog. Lagerfeld had before experiences with home order retailing from the work with French home order-specialist La Redoute. As part of the deal with Quelle, Lagerfeld will also do fashion consulting for the Nurnberg, Germany-based company. Since the collaboration with Quelle seems to be quite successful, the partnership will be extended. It is planned to offer beachwear in the Quelle catalog, which previous was licensed to the German specialist Furstenberg.

The company recently inked a deal with Tommy Hilfiger to produce a lower priced fashion line.