The House of Chanel, more commonly known as Chanel, is a Parisian fashion house in France founded by Coco Chanel (b.1883 - d.1971). According to Forbes, the privately held House of Chanel is jointly owned by Alain Wertheimer and Gerard Wertheimer who are the grandchildren of the early (1924) Chanel partner Pierre Wertheimer.
In 1939, she retired from fashion design and closed her popular couture house. Only her perfumes and accessories were sold at Chanel’s boutiques.
Coming out of fashion retirement at the age of 71, Chanel re-opened the couture house in 1954. Her first show received international acclaim, with her signature jersey suit being introduced that bore her favourite number: 5. In February 1955, Chanel introduced the quilted bag with the shoulder strap, named the 2.55 bag after the month and year of its creation. That same year, Chanel launched her first eau de toilette for men, Pour Monsieur.
In 1957 at the Fashion Awards in Dallas, Chanel and her spring collection received the Fashion Oscar. The fashion world applauded her as the ‘most influential designer of the twentieth century.’
On January 10, 1971, Coco Chanel died, ending an era of revolutionary fashion that would still be the classic model fashion designers today find inspiration in.
However, her influence did not pass with her death. Other posthumous projects came to light a few years later. In 1974, the House of Chanel launched Cristalle eau de toilette, which was in the workings when Coco Chanel was alive. 1978 saw the launch of the first non-couture, prêt-à-porter line and worldwide distribution of accessories. In 1981, Chanel launched a new eau de toilette for men, Antaeus.
Chanel website is now updated at www.chanelworld.com, this site features men and women collection for Chanel with news, blog, forum, chat and photos.
