Gianfranco Ferre: artistic talent and debut in fashion
Gianfranco Ferre was born in Legnano on August 15, 1944 , and from a very young age he showed an innate talent for art, so much so that when he was just sixteen he won the national painting competition of the Legnanese Family cultural association. Gianfranco therefore decides to follow his attitude of him, as well as deep passion, also in his studies, graduating in Architecture at the Milan Polytechnic in 1969.
In the seventies he took his first steps in the world of fashion, obtaining excellent results as the creator and creator of accessories and costume jewelery . From that moment on, the world of fashion became part of his life di lui in all respects and Gianfranco Ferre began to collaborate with the likes of Christane Baily and Walter Albini .
Later, Gianfranco continued with a career full of projects: he moved to India for several years to focus on his work through research, design and production of his Ketch collection. All this then led him in 1978 to found the maison that bears his name Di lui.
Thus began his long path to success, designing fashion collections for men, women, fashion accessories and underwear. He also comes to design perfumes and other products useful for enhancing one’s beauty.
The Gianfranco Ferre Spa maison
The apex of Gianfranco Ferre’s career comes with the foundation of the Gianfranco Ferre Spa maison in Milan. In the thirty years of life of the maison, various lines of clothing and accessories are created.
Gianfranco presents his first pret-a-porter collection in 1978 at the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan, and then continues with new lines and collections including collections for men, jeans and underwear lines. In 1984 he also created his first women’s perfume and two years later we have his first fragrance designed for men .
In 1989, Ferre also took over the direction of the French fashion house Christian Dior, continuing his upward path in the fashion world. A flourishing period began for him from a professional point of view, which will continue into the following decade. At the end of the nineties , the Ferre brand in fact experienced the period of maximum expansion with more than 400 clothing stores and over 1500 accessories stores, divided across the territory between owned stores and franchises. Precisely in this same period, however, Ferre also decides to separate from his historical partner Di lui. In 1998 his turnover was around 1,500 billion lire. A stratospheric figures.
The 2000s and the designer’s death in 2007
In 2000 Gianfranco Ferre produced a line for children, which was then followed by a preliminary agreement between his maison and Tonino Perna ‘s IT Holding for the acquisition of 90% of the Milanese company, which was then completed in 2002. But the Italian designer on the 15th June 2007 he fell ill and was admitted to the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan. From here he will not get out alive, due to a cerebral hemorrhage that will lead to his death di lui on June 17th. The funeral is celebrated at the Basilica of San Magno in Legnano , where he rests today.
Two years after his death, IT Holding went into receivership due to excessive debts with banks. In 2010, the latest relevant new line of accessories was presented.
The company is suffering from a severe crisis : while creditors are pressing, it is difficult to collect royalties from licensees for the various countries in which the brand is marketed. In 2012 the company changed its name to Paris Group srl and Gianfranco Ferre became only a brand .
The company is still part of the IT Holding group and, to remember Ferre, a foundation has been created that bears his name.
Our post dedicated to the stylist Gianfranco Ferre ends here. See you next time with the insights dedicated to the world of fashion, by our portal!
