Paris has a nearly unmatched history of enormously talented fashion designers. Many of the world’s greatest designers operated out of Paris. Coco Chanel, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and Yves Saint Laurent called Paris home. The rich legacy of Parisian talent is being carried on by these French fashion designers. Some of the names on this list have been making an impact for a few years now, while others are just joining the scene. Keep your eyes on these Paris designers!
Samuel Drira
It may sound like a terrible cliché, but I am inspired by women. I like mystery. I like enigmas.
French designer Samuel Drira’s pedigree is impressive. Over his career he worked for Hugo Boss, The Row, and Hermès before joining forces with Czech brand Nehera in 2014. Although he parted ways with Nehera in 2017, many credit Drira with putting the brand back on the fashion map. Along with his time at these fashion houses, Drira also spent years at Encens magazine, which he co-founded.
Demna Gvasalia
While you may not know Russian-born designer Demna Gvasalia’s name, you have certainly seen his work. Gvasalia’s designs for Balenciaga have made splashes in the media over the past years. The high fashion IKEA FRAKTA bag? That was Gvasalia’s work. The couture platform crocs that walked Balenciaga’s runway? Also Gvasalia. If you love French designers, Gvasalia is one to watch!
The splashy designer spent time with both Maison Margiela and Louis Vuitton before becoming Creative Director for Balenciaga. In addition to this work, Gvasalia also founded his own fashion house Vetements which has also shown at Paris Fashion Week.
Bouchra Jarrar
I have a profound respect for the history of Parisian couture from the ‘50s and the ‘60s.
Parisian haute couture designer Bouchra Jarrar worked with Jean-Paul Gaultier, Balenciaga, Christian Lacroix before becoming Creative Director for Lanvin. Her skill has been awarded with the Chevalier dans L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres medal, as well as a coveted Haute Couture appellation. She produced two collections for the house before leaving in 2017. We are excited to see what Jarrar chooses to do next as she is one of our Paris designers to watch.
Yasu Michino
Born in Tokyo, based in Paris since 2003, and having lived in Beijing, Hong Kong and New York, his international experiences contribute to the brand’s philosophy: to create collections by encounters and discovery and to inspire others along the way.
Handbag designer Yasu Michino was born in Japan, but his self-titled fashion brand Michino is based in Paris. Before launching his own fashion house, Michino worked with Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Sonia Rykiel, Nina Ricci, and Delvaux.
Yiqing Yin
She aims to create a garment that protects and reinforces, being at the same time a second skin and a flexible armor. Examining the dynamic potential of pleats, she imagines never-fixed structures, always-in-mutation volumes. She sculpts the emptiness around the body through the pursuit of balance and points of disruption between flowing zones and sculpted zones
Beijing-born designer Yiqing Yin immigrated to France at age 4. As a designer, she has collaborated with Léonard, Cartier, Guerlain, Hermès, Swarovski, and Lancôme. She earned several awards over her career, including the prestigious Award of First Collections of the ANDAM. She was awarded a coveted Haute Couture appellation in 2015 making her one of the new French designers you need to watch.
Marine Serre
The new collection reflects an increasing awareness of the dynamics between production and consumer that she herself experiences with her label. It also develops a rougher futuristic mystique : a new-functionalist “FutureWear”, as her crew calls it. Between the clash of references, tensions combine and evolve, upcycled used garments are revived into fresh pieces. Utilitarian staples are tweaked and refined, while the pared-down suppleness of athleticwear still pervades her hybrid designs.
Although Paris-based designer, Marine Serre worked with houses like Alexander McQueen, Maison Margiela, Dior, and Balenciaga her real calling is in the creation of her own brand. In 2017, her namesake label debuted a capsule collection for SS18. She was awarded the ANDAM Prize and the LVMH Prize in that same year.
So, which of these French fashion designers are you loving? Do you have any other Paris designers to add to our list?
