The first Givenchy store opened its doors in 1952, the brainchild of the owner Hubert de Givenchy.
To trace the origin of this event, however, it is necessary that we retreated a few years ago. Givenchy was born in 1927 in France. At the age of 10, having shown a talent for fashion from an early age, he visited the World Exhibition in Paris. Leaving the Pavilion of Elegance and filled with awe of the beauty of the gowns and models of outstanding fashion houses, his decision to become a fashion designer was cemented.
After the liberation of the allies of France by the end of World War II, Givechi moved to Paris. One of his first mentors was Jacques Fat, who, together with Christian Dior and Pierre Balmain, was considered one of the main influences on the post-war fashion industry.
His training continued under the guidance of expert Robert Piquet and Lucien Leluna. When, in 1947, Elsa Schiaparelli appointed him to manage her boutiques on Vandom Square, his entry into the world of high fashion was secured.
Indeed, 5 years later, in 1952, Givenchy opened his own Maison de Couture in No8, rue Alfred de Vigny, on Monceau Plain and received instant recognition with the release of his very first collection.
Meeting with the famous Audrey Hepburn in 1953 was a momentous event for Givenchy. Hepburn eventually became an ambassador for the Givenchy brand, and a lifelong friend.
Associations with craftsmen industry continued. The influence of his friendship with Cristobal Balenziaga, for example, is reflected in many Givenchy collections.
In 1954, Givenchy became the first designer to present a collection of luxury women ready to wear clothes. Among his many contributions to the fashion world were “Bag”, “Dressed Dress” and a funnel-shaped collar. His work was bold and elegant. Some of his most original designs were printed on textiles, inspired by Miro, Mathis and Christian Berard.
Givenchy continued to diversify, and in 1973 he released the men's clothing line Gentleman Givenchy. In 1987, Givenchy joined the French luxury group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, along with other prestigious names such as Dior, Louis Vuitton, Christian Lacroix and Céline.
After retiring in 1995, Givenchy had several famous young designers, namely: John Galliano (January 1996), Alexander McQueen (October 1996), Julien MacDonald (March 2001) and Riccardo Vice (March 2005).
The brand Givenchy is still revered internationally as “Ultimate in Chic”.
