Gianfranco Ferré facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gianfranco Ferré
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Ferré in 2003
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| Born | 15 August 1944 Legnano, Italy
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| Died | 17 June 2007 (aged 62) Milan, Italy
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| Education | Polytechnic University of Milan |
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Label(s)
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Gianfranco Ferré (born August 15, 1944 – died June 17, 2007) was a famous Italian fashion designer. People often called him "the architect of fashion." This was because of his background in architecture and his unique way of designing clothes.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Gianfranco Ferré was born in Legnano, a town near Milan in Italy. He was born on August 15, 1944. He went to a science high school in Legnano.
Later, in 1963, he started studying architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan. He finished his studies and graduated in 1969.
Beginning His Fashion Journey
Ferré started his career in fashion in 1970. First, he designed accessories like bags and jewelry. Then, from 1972 to 1974, he designed raincoats.
In 1974, he started his own company called Baila. By 1978, he launched his very own clothing collection for women. His first collection for men came out in 1982. In 1986, he showed his first couture (high fashion) collection in Rome.
In 1989, Ferré became the Stylistic Director for Christian Dior in Paris. This was a very important job! He was chosen by Bernard Arnault to lead the designs for Dior. In 1994, Ferré even designed the famous Lady Dior handbag. He left Dior in 1996 after designing their Spring 1997 collection.
The Gianfranco Ferré Company
Building His Own Brand
Gianfranco Ferré started his own women's clothing line in 1978. He also founded the Gianfranco Ferré company that same year. He kept working on his own brand in Italy while he was also designing for Dior.
His own clothing line was known for being more relaxed and simple than Dior's. His sophisticated white shirts became a special symbol of his personal design style.
Over the years, the Gianfranco Ferré company grew very large. It became a holding company that managed all the fashion business for the Ferré brand. Later, in 2002, the company was sold to IT Holdings. In 2011, a company from Dubai called Paris Group bought the Gianfranco Ferré company.
What Ferré Designed
Gianfranco Ferré created many different types of clothing and products:
- Gianfranco Ferré: This was his main clothing line for men, women, and children.
- Ferré: This line was more practical and ready-to-wear for everyday use. It included clothes for both men and women. There were also special lines like Ferré Red for plus sizes and Ferré Fur.
- GF Ferré: This was a younger, sportier clothing line for men and women.
- Gianfranco Ferré Fragrances: He also had his own perfumes.
- Ferre Milano: A casual clothing line for women and men.
In 2005, Ferré even designed the flight attendant uniforms for Korean Air. He used traditional Korean hair accessories called "binyeo" in his designs.
Ferré also expanded into designing jewelry and children's wear.
How Products Were Made
Many companies made products under the Ferré name through special agreements called licenses. This meant other companies could produce items like shoes, stationery, luggage, home furnishings, and perfumes using his brand name.
Over time, many of these outside licenses were stopped. The company focused mainly on the Gianfranco Ferré mainline, the Ferré diffusion line, and the GF Ferré younger/activewear labels.
Selling Around the World
Most of Ferré's sales came from outside Italy, especially in the United States. He had his own exclusive stores around the world. He also sold his clothes in many other shops.
Sports Connections
GF Ferré designed the official off-field uniforms for the Rome-based soccer club S.S. Lazio for the 2009-2010 soccer season.
Awards and Recognition
Gianfranco Ferré won many important awards during his career. These awards recognized his amazing talent in fashion design:
- Occhio d'Oro Award: He won this award six times for being the Best Italian Designer.
- Gold Medal from the City of Milan: This was a special honor from the city of Milan.
- Commendatore del Ordine: He received this decoration from the President of Italy.
- De d'Or (Golden Thimble Award): He won this award for his very first haute couture collection for Dior in 1989.
About His Life
Ferré was known for not liking fashion trends or temporary fads. He was very busy, working for both a top French fashion brand (Dior) and his own Italian label. He often traveled between Milan and Paris in his private plane. He also had a large home by Lake Maggiore in Italy.
His Passing
Gianfranco Ferré passed away on June 17, 2007. A few days before, he had a serious brain hemorrhage. He was taken to the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, where he later died.
Ferré was buried in his hometown of Legnano. Other famous designers like Giorgio Armani, Valentino Garavani, and Donatella Versace attended his funeral.
Images for kids
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Ferré in 2003
See also
In Spanish: Gianfranco Ferré para niños
