Fashion Designer Christian Lacroix was born on May 16, 1951 in Arles, France, under the highly symbolic sign of Taurus.
He spent his solitary childhood between the Camargue beaches and the Alpilles pine forests, amongst the Gallo-Roman ruins and the remnants of the 1944 WWII bombings, attending bullfighting events and theater or opera festivals, immersed in both Provencal and Gypsy traditions, and enjoying museum paintings and attic books. During his adolescence, he discovered a passion for Oscar Wilde and the BeatlesÕ England as well as Barcelona and Venice. He later studied Art History at the University of Montpellier. In 1973, he continued his studies in Paris at both the Sorbonne and the Ecole du Louvre, with the ambition to become a museum curator.
He then met individuals that would influence his destiny : Francoise, his future wife, who introduced him to the secrets of Paris and encouraged him to draw ; Jean-Jacques Picart, a press attache and advisor to several Designers and Haute Couture Houses, who found him a job at Hermes in 1978, then with Guy Paulin in 1980.
In 1981, he began working at the Jean Patou House. Here, in collaboration with Jean-Jacques Picart, he took up the challenge of Haute Couture, a profession that certain individuals claimed to be on the decline. Season after season, the two designers succeeded in defining the 1980s with their bright colors, extravagance and luxuriance. In 1986, their work was awarded with their first De dÕOr, after which they received the Award for the most influential foreign designer, given by the CFDA in New York in January 1987.
In October 2002, together with the presentation of spring-summer 2003 collections and the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Couture House, Christian Lacroix received the insignia of Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur from Mr. Bernard Arnault, Chairman of LVMH.
The Christian Lacroix House
At that time Christian Lacroix met Bernard Arnault, who founded the house of CHRISTIAN LACROIX , which is located in a private mansion at 73, rue du Faubourg Saint Honore in Paris. The first collection, in July 1987, highlighted eccentricity in opposition to the minimalism that was then in style. The second collection, in January 1988, was awarded a De dÕOr.
In March, 1988, Christian Lacroix created his first ready to wear collection, drawing his inspiration from diverse cultures.
1989 was characterized by his first line of accessories (jewelry, handbags, shoes, glasses, scarves and ties) as well as the opening of boutiques in Paris, Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Toulouse, London, Geneva and Japan.
In 1994, Christian Lacroix created his "Bazar" line, in addition to both his Ready-to wear and Haute Couture lines, a collection based more than any other on folklore and historical time periods.
1995 : launch of the CL linen and towel collection, designed in the same spirit, according to which fashion and lifestyle are two sides of the same coin.
1996 : creation of the "Jeans" line: a collection that embraces the past, present and future, and was inspired from popular and ethnic arts and traditions throughout the world.
1997 : Creation of the Christian Lacroix "Art de la Table" collection in collaboration with the Christofle House.
This same year, he signed a licensing agreement with Pronuptia for the manufacture and distribution of his "Christian Lacroix Mariee " line.
1999 : launch of the "Christian Lacroix" Perfume (floral-ambergris).
2000 : launch of a silver and semiprecious stone jewelry line, which completed his novelty accessories.
2001 : A "Christian Lacroix childrenÕs wear" line was launched.
2002 : Launch of the "Bazar" perfume for woman and men.
2002 : Christian Lacroix is appointed Artistic Director of the Florentine fashion house Emilio Pucci (starting at the Milan Fashion Week in October 2002).
Today, the Christian Lacroix House boasts approximately 35 points of sale in France (either Christian Lacroix boutiques or sales areas within a department store). Christian Lacroix fashion products and brands are sold in over 1,000 points of sale throughout the world.
Theater, Opera and Illustration
In addition to his ongoing preoccupation with current fashions, style and the future, Christian Lacroix continues to draw as well as create costumes for stage productions.
1987 : " Tarnished Angels " for Karol Armiatge at the Paris Opera.
1988 : " La Ga”te Parisienne " for Mikha‘l Baryshnikov at the Metropolitan Opera in New York
1989 : " Carmen " at the N”mes arena.
1990 : he illustrated a book written by Patrick Mauris called " Ple-Mele ".
1992 : " LÕas-tu revue " at the Opera Comique.
1994, he collaborated with Patrick Mauris a second time, drawing illustrations for his book " Styles dÕAujourdÕhui "
1994 : " Les Caprices de Marianne " for Lambert Wilson at the Bouffes du Nord.
1995 : " Othello " at the The‰tre 14.
1995 : " Phdre " at the Comedie Francaise, for which he was given a "Molire" award for best costume designer.
1996 : "Le Journal dÕune Collection", an in-depth study of the complex creation of Haute Couture collections
1997 : " Don Juan " by Montherlant at the The‰tre de Nantes and "Les Enfants du Paradis " at the The‰tre du Rond Point.
1997 and 1998 : " La Valse des Bonbons " and " Le Beau Danube Bleu ", ballets for the New Year in Wienna. BalanchineÕs " Theme and variation " at the Vienna Opera.
1999 : " Les Enfants du Paradis " for Juliette Binoche and Beno”t Magimel in Diane KurysÕ film. " Cindarella and the Ballet " for the New Millenium with the Vienna Opera.
2000 : created the sign for the "La Beaute en Avignon" exposition, commissioned by the Mission 2000 in France, placed under the authority of the Ministry of Culture and Communication.
2000 : Christian Lacroix decorated the first new TGV Mediterranean train, 8 "decorated" cars, designed and presented as Haute Couture dresses.
2000 : stage decors and ballet costumes for "Les Joyaux" by Balanchine, at the Opera Garnier.
2001 : "Berenice" by Racine, directed by Lambert Wilson, with Kristin Scott-Thomas and Didier Sandre (Avignon Theatre Festival - Chaillot Theatre/Paris).
2001 : Ballet "Sheherazade" by Bianca Li at the Opera de Paris.
