Sunday, June 17, 2007

Obit: Gianfranco Ferre, 62, Italy's Architect of Fashion

The ANNOTICO Report

 

Italian designer Gianfranco Ferre, died at age 62, was known as the "architect of fashion" that came about  thanks a combination of   (1) the degree in architecture he obtained in 1969 from Milan's Polytechnic Institute that  inspired his designs that were (2) structured, sculpted shapes,  and  (3) for his groundbreaking tenure at Christian Dior.

Born Aug. 15, 1944, in Legnano, in northern Italy, Ferre worked and lived in India for several years. Ferre started his career as an accessories and jewelry designer, and then moved on to clothes. He started his own company in the mid-1970s, but his major leap came in 1989, when he was tapped by Bernard Arnault to be the top designer for Christian Dior. At the time, it was almost unheard of for a non-French designer to take the reigns of the venerable Parisian house.

Ferre stayed on at Dior until the fall of 1996, when he returned to Milan to tend to his own men's and women's collections. In 2002, Ferre sold Gianfranco Ferre to It Holding, but he stayed on as creative director.

 

Gianfranco Ferre, 62, Italy's Architect of Fashion, Dies of Cerebral Hemorrhage

 

Canadian Press

Canada.com - Hamilton,Ontario,Canada
Sunday, June 17, 2007

 

MILAN, Italy (AP) - Italian designer Gianfranco Ferre, known as the "architect of fashion" for his structured, sculpted shapes and for his groundbreaking tenure at Christian Dior, died Sunday, a hospital said. He was 62.

Ferre was taken to the San Raffaele hospital in Milan on Friday after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage. The hospital, in a statement authorized by Ferre's family, said he died at 9 p.m. Sunday.

Ferre started his career as an accessories and jewelry designer, and then moved on to clothes.

His unofficial title as Italy's architect of fashion came thanks to the degree in architecture he obtained in 1969 from Milan's Polytechnic Institute that inspired his designs.

He started his own company in the mid-1970s, but his major leap came in 1989, when he was tapped by Bernard Arnault to be the top designer for Christian Dior. At the time, it was almost unheard of for a non-French designer to take the reigns of the venerable Parisian house.

Ferre stayed on at Dior until the fall of 1996, when he returned to Milan to tend to his own men's and women's collections.

Ferre's style was based on simple and structured lines, and the white blouse became one of his trademarks. His suits were used by businesswomen around the world looking for a sophisticated look.

For the evening, Ferre often made important dresses with ample skirts supported by layers of crinolines.

In 2002, Ferre sold Gianfranco Ferre to It Holding, but he stayed on as creative director. His spring-summer 2008 menswear collection is scheduled to be presented next week in Milan.

Born Aug. 15, 1944, in Legnano, in northern Italy, Ferre worked and lived in India for several years. His passion for travel and world cultures was often reflected in his collections.

http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainment/

story.html?id=d8b2ef9c-cd7b-449d-98c6-d6f8d834b122&k=65435

 

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