History of the Karl Lagerfeld brand

Find the KARL LAGERFELD KIDS collection in the Kids Around online store. Fun and stylish, it is aimed at children from 0 to 12 years old. But do you know the history of the Karl Lagerfeld brand?

The origins of the KARL LAGERFELD brand

It was in 1984 that Karl Lagerfeld, whose full name is Karl Otto Lagerfeldt, founded his own brand. This great German couturier and stylist, born in Hamburg in 1933, moved to Paris with his mother in the early 1950s. He initially worked as a fashion illustrator and then as an independent stylist for several years. Throughout his career, he worked for Jean Patou, Chloé, and Fendi, before becoming the iconic artistic director of the Chanel house in 1983.

The KARL LAGERFELD brand changed its name in 1998 to Lagerfeld Gallery, and the designer opened a boutique in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The brand returned to its original name in 2006, after being bought by American designer Tommy Hilfiger in 2004. However, Karl Lagerfeld remained the creative director of the house. The first show for the brand took place in New York in the same year, closing Fashion Week. The following year, in 2007, Karl Lagerfeld organized his brand's Parisian runway show at the Sorbonne. He also launched the K line, which featured casual and more affordable pieces for both women and men.

In 2011, Pier Paolo Righi became the CEO of the company. Despite Karl Lagerfeld's passing in 2019, the brand continues to design clothing for both adults and children, staying true to the vision of the famous German designer. To achieve this, the brand's artistic director, Hum Kim, can draw inspiration from the 60,000 sketches and photos left by Karl Lagerfeld.

The key pieces of Karl Lagerfeld

Although he liked to dress in black, Karl Lagerfeld always favored the purity of white for his collections aimed at women. However, black is not absent from his creations, allowing him to imagine a woman who is sometimes ambivalent, both angel and demon. His clothes celebrate an urban and androgynous silhouette, whose wardrobe is inspired by men's attire.

Throughout his career, he worked towards creating fashion with a playful dimension that didn’t take itself too seriously. He loved drawing inspiration from both the world of art and everyday life to create the signature pieces of his brand. He reimagined espadrilles, the bohemian blouse, skinny jeans, and the Panama hat, turning them into refined and elegant garments, but always easy to wear every day.

Beyond the clothes he designed for women, Karl Lagerfeld’s own style also served as an inspiration: black suit over a white shirt and black sunglasses, the German designer embodied French elegance to the world. He continually infused his unique personality into his creations, especially his passion for art, photography, and literature. He also knew how to stay current, for example, by signing a collaboration with influencer Olivia Palermo shortly before his passing.

The KARL LAGERFELD KIDS collection

The first KARL LAGERFELD KIDS collection was launched in the spring-summer of 2016. It is designed for both boys and girls, from 0 to 12 years old. Its emblem? A miniature Karl Lagerfeld, recognizable by his suit, black sunglasses, and his ponytail. He is often accompanied by Choupette, the cat he adopted in 2011, which was gifted to him by model Baptiste Giabiconi. The "Choupette" and "Bad Cat" lines are inspired by this charismatic feline.

The Karl Lagerfeld Kids collection follows the codes of the adult brand, with a predominance of black and white in a rock-chic ambiance. It is also inspired by Karl Lagerfeld's personal style: for example, you can find the famous white shirt and black pants that the designer particularly favored.

The children's collection is both elegant and casual, timeless and trendy. The t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jogging cardigans are made from refined fabrics, but with comfortable cuts. The KARL LAGERFELD KIDS dresses for girls mix classic lines, inspired by the 1930s for example, with urban elements. At KARL LAGERFELD KIDS, children can easily switch from one style to another: Art Deco-style pleated skirts sit alongside trendy tracksuits, adapting to every mood.