Jeanne Lanvin: From Hat Workshop to Fashion Legend

Jeanne Lanvin, a visionary and self-made designer, managed to transform emotion into fabric, creating an elegant world that survives to this day.

She began her career as an assistant in a hat workshop on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré at the age of 13. By the age of 22, she already had her own shop, where her creations were worn by the most stylish Parisians.

The birth of her daughter, Margaret, in 1897, was a turning point. Lanvin created the first haute couture children's collection, inspired by Margaret's clothes. She also created the iconic Arpège perfume as a birthday gift for her daughter, who became Countess Marie-Blanche de Polignac. The house's logo depicts the mother and daughter hand-in-hand.

Lanvin was a pioneer, creating hats, children's, women's and men's clothing, as well as accessories. She perceived fashion as a holistic world. In the 1920s, she became known for her vibrant colors, elaborate embroidery and pearls.