Christian Lacroix
Founder of the couture house Christian Lacroix
Christian Lacroix is a French designer who founded his haute couture house in 1987 with backing from the group that became LVMH and defined late 1980s Paris with exuberant colour, mixed patterns and theatrical silhouettes. He left his house in 2009 and has since worked mainly in costume and interior design, while the brand itself was bought by the Spanish group Sociedad Textil Lonia in January 2025.
| Role | Founder, Christian Lacroix |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1987, Paris |
| Emilio Pucci | Creative director, 2002 to 2005 |
| Left own house | 2009 |
| Brand owner | Sociedad Textil Lonia, since January 2025 |
| Born | 1951, Arles |
Who is Christian Lacroix?
Christian Lacroix was born in 1951 in Arles in the south of France. He studied art history in Montpellier and at the Sorbonne and trained in museum studies before moving into fashion. His work is rooted in the colours of the Mediterranean, Provençal and Spanish traditions, and in a love of historical costume.
Career
Lacroix rose to prominence as the designer of the couture house Jean Patou in the 1980s. In 1987 he opened his own haute couture house, financed by Financière Agache, the holding company of Bernard Arnault. His debut made the pouf or puffball skirt a signature of the decade, and his collections became known for bright, baroque and theatrical styling with mixed patterns and rich embellishment.
- 1987: founds his own couture house
- 2002 to 2005: creative director of Emilio Pucci
- 2005: LVMH sells the house to the US-based Falic group
- 2009: the company enters administration and couture ends; Lacroix leaves
- September 2019: joint collection with Dries Van Noten
Alongside his own house he served as creative director of Emilio Pucci from 2002 to 2005. In 2005 LVMH sold Christian Lacroix to the Falic group. The business entered administration in 2009, its couture activity ended and Lacroix left the house that bears his name.
Influence on the fashion business
Lacroix's story is often cited as an example of how difficult it is to run a pure couture house profitably without a large accessories or fragrance business. After his departure the brand continued mainly through licences and collaborations, including a long partnership with the Spanish retailer Desigual from 2011. In January 2025 the Galician group Sociedad Textil Lonia, in which Puig holds a 25 per cent stake, acquired 100 per cent of Christian Lacroix, highlighting the value of its archives.
Lacroix himself has remained active as a costume designer for opera and theatre and in interiors, including uniforms for Air France staff in 2004 and hotel design. In 2019 he returned to fashion briefly through a celebrated joint collection with Dries Van Noten.
Why it matters
Lacroix represents the last great wave of new haute couture houses founded in Paris. His career shows both the cultural power of couture and the commercial pressures behind it, and the 2025 sale of his archive-rich brand illustrates how heritage names continue to attract investors.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Christian Lacroix?
Christian Lacroix is a French fashion designer born in Arles in 1951 who founded his haute couture house in Paris in 1987. He became known for colourful, theatrical couture and the puffball skirt.
Who owns the Christian Lacroix brand?
In January 2025 the Spanish group Sociedad Textil Lonia bought 100 per cent of Christian Lacroix from the US-based Falic group. The designer himself left the house in 2009.