Hubert de Givenchy, Research Paper Example

Abstract

 The industry of designing clothes has taken different stages of development through the years. It could be realized that these advancements have been largely affected by the condition of development that the society has been incurring ever since the indication of economic growth among nations like that of France and Italy. Being the world’s capital of fashion, both France and Italy became home to the most notable individuals in the field of fashion. In the discussion that follows, one of the most credible and notable individuals in the said industry by the name of Hubert De Givenchy shall be given particular attention to.

Hubert De Givenchy:  A Man of Fashion and Reputation

What makes a fashion designer a well-known individual in the industry a well-known and respected person is that of his capacity to make his own name using his original source of creativity and simply making wonderful presentations that entices the interest of the society. During his own time, Hubert De Givenchy was one among the few individuals who were specifically given the chance to express themselves fully through the ideal element that makes their personality. Being born to a family of artists, designers and entrepreneurs, Givenchy was set on the right track as he established his desire to be a part of the growing industry of fashion as the early 1950’s entered the pages of human history.

Back in the days, it was just essential that one is able to obtain the right clothing that fits him and his needs of being covered and protected from the changing tides of the weather. However, at the time when the rise of the stars has been introduced through the invention of the television, the said aspect of basic need has become more than just a means of body covering. At this point, the birth of fashion and style has been given way and the names of designers from all over the globe began to flourish. Among those who were highly respected were the ones who were able to design clothing lines for the ‘stars’. There works have represented the development of the fashion industry as endorsed by those adorned by the society. Actors and actresses were the primary icons who represented the clothing lines by designers who were trying to make a name in the industry. The success of Givenchy in the industry however did not come as easy as expected. Apart from what his family has done, Givenchy insisted on making a name for himself apart from his family. He does understand the need to become more refined in defining the path that he wants to tread for his own sake. It is through this particular source of personal motivation that Givenchy was able to make a name for himself.

Brief Biography

Born on February 21, 1927 in France, Count Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy was assumed to become specifically involved in the same industry that his family was engaged in even before his birth. Even when he was at a young age, he knew that he wanted to work “somewhere in the fashion industry”. In relation to this desire, Givenchy made sure that he would be able to deal with the right people and learn only from the best. His inspiration was further spurred by the 1937 World’s fair in Paris where he got the chance to see several approaches to fashion design coming from different cultures and different nations from all around the globe. Gaining relative fascination from the world designs, he decided to study at Ecole des Beux-Arts where he learned basic concepts of design. The practices he learned were very much helpful in his process of development, which he later on able to apply in the way by which he manages the creation of clothing line designs that he made for prominent people both in France and even in the early years of American cinema.

For years of existing in the fashion industry before he decided to finally retire in 1995, he was able to create fashion strings and clothing lines that specifically carry his own name, which later on improved the reputation that he holds in the industry. Going side-to-side wither other well-known designers, Givenchy was able to notably create a distinction between his personal creation with that o the others who were trying to follow the trend that was set in the French industry of fashion during the time. Known as a fashion aristocrat, many well-known personalities trusted the design of Givenchy and was then considered an icon in the industry through the years. Although only a few are already able to recognize his existence in the industry in the past, his influence to the industry remains intact not to mention the consideration by which he was able to run a business and a constructive relationship with his clients that teaches so much to the modern operators of the industry at present.

Life Background and Career

Starting from the year 1937 when he first started to pursue his career in the fashion industry, Givenchy decided to bring everything to the next level of recognition. He worked with Elsa Schiaparelli during the years 1947 to 1951 and gained much education from the practical experiences he got from such a professional relationship with a top designer like Schiaparelli. During this time, he learned so much about the process of knowing what the people want, responding to it and marketing it to make amicable profit for the business. Along with this, he was also able to realize that the desire to create is the primary foundation of success of several designers in the fashion industry. It is from this particular motivation that he was able to distinctively identify his personal understanding of what he wants to do for life.

This is the reason why in 1951, he decided to create his own boutique. He waved away from under Schiaparelli’s guidance, created his own designs, and was confident enough to present them to the market. However, the first attempt to enter the industry was not that easy for Givenchy. In fact, his first established store went bankrupted after a few months. From this experience, he learned that when entering the industry on one’s own name, it does not only require personal motivation, talent, creativity and skills. Instead, it also requires an understanding of the system on how the business should be ran.

The first prominent individuals he designed for were Jacques Fath, Robert Piguet and Lucien Lelong who were notably known in the society during the late 1940’s towards the early 1950’s. The trust that they have placed in his hands specifically made it easier for Givenchy to gain the right confidence he needed to further his designs and promote them for use of other prominent individuals in the society [which he notably prefers to be coming from the entertainment industry]. The first failure of his store did not bring his sprits down. Instead, he tried to spend more of his time establishing a name as an independent designer. Dior, one of the top designers during his era was one among the primary competitors that Givenchy tried to go head-to-head with. His first collection under the identity of Bettina Graziani highlighted a more liberal approach to design compared to Dior’s released clothing lines. He was not afraid to make the women bear some skin as he believes that it is the body’s couture that should be showcased and not the dress alone. Releasing his “separates” in 1952, Givenchy introduced the skirt and blouse terno that featured puff-sleeved blouses that are soft enough due to the fact that they were created from raw cotton. Such highlight of the material presented a more comfortable fit for the women, which made the said collection one of the top appreciated designs of the time even during its first launching in the market.

In 1954, the works of Givenchy started to be noticed by the elite industry of stars. His designs have been featured in the cover of life magazine, which depicted a more liberalized France as his models represented the clothing lines he created. From this particular success, Givenchy tried to venture on creating ready-to-wear lines that are easier to maintain compared to the first types of clothing lines he presented to the market. He named this luxury clothing line for women as the Givenchy Universite. He followed such launch with the creation of his own selection of fragrances in 1957 under the brand L’interdit. The said fragrances gained so much appeal especially that Audrey Hepburn with whom Givenchy worked with for a long time first endorsed it.

During the year 1968, Givenchy launched another luxury line that was ready to wear for women under the brand Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique. This line featured high end fabric that required less complex maintenance like that of the other fabrics that were worked with by other designers during the said era of fashion development. Gentlemen Givenchy on the other hand was later on released in 1973, which opened the market that Givenchy served into a more general-gender group of buyers. At this point, he was not only able to serve the fashion needs of both men and women, but also that of the young and the aged consumers relatively.

One of the most unforgettable creations of Givenchy that took the industry by surprise is that of the Sack Dress. It was basically different from the regular manner by which Givenchy treats fabrics. It is through this design that he was able to present his other side to the market. Herein, he wanted to create the illusion of shape through plainness. The shapeless design of the fabric made it easier for the women to present themselves according to how they desire to and not according to what is suggested by the fabric itself.

From these collective experiences, Givenchy was able to understand that when it comes to creating a business that would compete in the realms of international fashion, creativity and talent are not enough to survive the industry. Instead, it requires both strategy and confidence to actually make it in relation to the process by which other organizations are surviving the same end of the competition.

Works and Influences

When it comes to creating fashionable styles of clothing lines, there are three aspects of design that Givenchy utilizes as part of the basic practices that serve as the foundation of his profession. These three aspects of design specifically gave him the proper chance to reach out to his target market while creating the best designs of his life. It is the utilization of these particular aspects that provide a good indication on how he was able to establish a reputation that made him an icon in the industry and later on become a great source of inspiration for new emerging designers in the world of fashion. The said three aspects include the following:

Personal Relationship with the Clients

What basically makes Givenchy different from other designers during his time is that it is an innate desire for him to establish good relationship especially with his regular clients. One of the most treasured clients that he ever had was Audrey Hepburn for whom he made several dresses and screen costumes for. His established reputation among the elites allowed him to create a reputation in the market that cannot be paid for by any amount of money and that is the value of trust. In this case, he was able to use them as the iconic representatives of his fashion designs as he launches them in the market.

Fearless Capacity to Innovate

There is nothing wrong about being different. In the case of Givenchy, his fearless capacity to define his designs specifically made it easier for him to catch the attention of the market. He was able to turn their heads around and later on convince them to buy his clothing lines.

Stating a Sense of Originality on Taste and Style

Among the most important characteristics of his designs is that they provide the market with the element of personality. If there is anything that makes it easier for the consumers to accept the items he releases, may it be fashion or clothing line or his fragrances, it is the originality that it has and the personality that it carries along with it.

Conclusion

The new designers of the modern era are more like Givenchy. Not afraid to extend their capacities and explore the possibilities allowed for them to take into consideration, many designers today are able to make a name that is distinctively different from the others in the industry. It is for this cause that the modern industry of fashion is characterized to be more diversified and more expressive in a sense. True, Givenchy’s influence and that of the other designers of his time make a great impact on how the current industry of international fashion turned out to be as an expression of one’s self rather than simply a source of clothing as a necessity for living. Practically, this is what makes the fashion industry thrive for many years and has now become one of the highest grossing industries (Braudel, 1990) in the field of international commerce and trade.

References

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Breward, Christopher. (2003). The culture of fashion: a new history of fashionable dress. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Françoise Mohrt. (1998). The Givenchy Style. Assouline.

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Laver, James. (1999). The Concise History of Costume and Fashion. Abrams.  p. 62.

McDermott, Kathleen. (2010). Style for all: why fashion, invented by kings, now belongs to all of us (An illustrated history). Manchester: Manchester University Press.

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