Karl Lagerfeld
Creative director of Chanel (1983 to 2019) and designer at Fendi (1965 to 2019)
Karl Lagerfeld was the German designer best known for the modern revival of Chanel, which he led from 1983 until his death in 2019. He worked simultaneously for Fendi, Chloé and his own label, and his 2004 collection for H&M opened the era of designer and high street collaborations.
| Role | Creative director of Chanel, 1983 to 2019 |
|---|---|
| Fendi | Designer, 1965 to 2019 |
| Chloé | 1964 to 1983 and 1992 to 1997 |
| Own label | Karl Lagerfeld, founded 1984 |
| Born | 10 September 1933, Hamburg |
| Died | 19 February 2019, Paris |
Who is Karl Lagerfeld?
Karl Lagerfeld, born in Hamburg on 10 September 1933, was one of the most prolific designers in fashion history. Across a career of roughly 65 years he designed for several houses at once, often producing many collections a year. He is remembered above all as the creative force behind the revival of Chanel, which he joined in 1983. He died in Paris on 19 February 2019.
Career
Lagerfeld's career began in 1954, when at the age of 21 he won first prize in the International Woolmark Prize competition for a coat sketch. He then worked as a freelance designer for a number of Paris houses. His longest associations were:
- Chloé: head designer from 1964 to 1983 and again from 1992 to 1997
- Fendi: designer from 1965 until 2019, one of the longest partnerships between a designer and a house
- Chanel: creative director from 1983 until 2019
- Karl Lagerfeld: his own label, founded in 1984
Alongside fashion he developed a serious practice in photography from 1987, shooting campaigns himself. In 1999 he opened a photo studio and the 7L bookshop in Paris, followed in 2000 by the publishing house Editions 7L.
Influence on the fashion business
At Chanel, Lagerfeld took the codes established by Gabrielle Chanel, such as the tweed jacket, quilting and the interlocking Cs, and reworked them season after season for a contemporary audience. The approach turned a heritage name into a commercial powerhouse and became a model for how luxury houses can manage an archive.
In 2004 he designed a capsule collection for H&M, the first time the retailer had partnered with a high fashion runway designer. The success of that project made designer collaborations a recurring strategy for mass market retailers and a way for luxury talent to reach a much wider audience.
Why it matters
Lagerfeld demonstrated that a creative director could reinvent a founder's legacy without abandoning it, and that a designer could work across luxury, diffusion and mass market at the same time. His idea of constant output and of the designer as a recognisable public figure shaped the modern role of the creative director. In his own words, quoted by his brand: "I design like I breathe, you don't ask to breathe; it just happens."
Frequently asked questions
Who was Karl Lagerfeld?
Karl Lagerfeld was a German fashion designer, born in Hamburg in 1933, who led Chanel from 1983 until his death in 2019. He also designed for Fendi from 1965 and for Chloé, and founded his own label in 1984.
What is Karl Lagerfeld known for?
He is best known for the modern revival of Chanel, his decades at Fendi, and his 2004 H&M collection, the retailer's first collaboration with a high fashion runway designer. He was also a photographer and publisher.