In the wake ofKarl Lagerfeld‘sdeath, the fashion industry has united to mourn and remember the iconic designer. Chanel, the French fashion house Lagerfeld ran since 1983, paid tribute to its leader as they named his longtime right-hand colleague, Virginie Viard, as his successor.
Alain Wertheimer, CEO of Chanel, shared his sadness upon the loss of the “prolific creative mind.”
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“Thanks to his creative genius, generosity and exceptional intuition, Karl Lagerfeld was ahead of his time, which widely contributed to the House of Chanel’s success throughout the world. Today, not only have I lost a friend, but we have all lost an extraordinary creative mind to whom I gave carte blanche in the early 1980s to reinvent the brand,” Wertheimer said in a statement on Instagram.
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Bruno Pavlovsky, President of Fashion at Chanel, also remembered the late designer’s more than 30 year tenure at the brand.
“Fashion show after fashion show, collection after collection, Karl Lagerfeld left his mark on the legend of Gabrielle Chanel and the history of the House of Chanel. He steadfastly promoted the talent and expertise of Chanel’s ateliers and Métiers d’Art, allowing this exceptional know-how to shine throughout the world,” Pavolvsky said.
RELATED PHOTOS:Karl Lagerfeld’s Life in Photos
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Fendi, the Italian fashion house Lagerfeld has worked with since 1965, also is mourning the loss of its Creative Director. Although the label has yet to name his successor, Fendi shared a statement with PEOPLE.
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Designer Silvia Venturini Fendi, the Fendi Creative Director for Menswear, Accessories and Kidswear, also mourns the loss of Lagerfeld, whom she calls her “mentor and my point of reference.”
“I am profoundly saddened as today we have lost a unique man and an unrivaled designer, who has given so much to FENDI and to myself. I was only a child when I first saw Karl. Our relationship was very special, based on a deep and very genuine affection. We had a lot of mutual appreciation and endless respect,” she tells us. “For FENDI and myself, the creative genius of Karl has been and will always be our guiding light, molding the Maison’s DNA. I will miss him deeply and always carry with me the memories of our days together.”
Lagerfeld died at age 85in Paris several weeks after hemissed Chanel’s spring 2019 haute couture show in Paris on January 22, leading to reports that he was in poor health.
Since the news broke, celebrities and fashion industry stars have beenremembering Lagerfeld’s legacy on social media.
Designer Victoria Beckham and her husband, soccer star David Beckham, both paid their respects on Instagram. “So incredibly sad to hear this. Karl was a genius and always so kind and generous to me both personally and professionally,” Victoria wrote.
Gigi HadidandBella Hadid, who have both graced many runways for Lagerfeld’s shows, paid tribute to Lagerfeld as well on their Instagram Stories.
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“I’m so heartbroken I almost don’t have words,” Gigi wrote (and Bella reposted). “There will never be another Karl Lagerfeld. Every second with you was an honor, joy, and inspiration. I wish I could give you one last hug.”
source: people.com
