House of Worth
Encyclopedia
The House of Worth is a Haute Couture fashion house founded in the 1850s by Charles Frederick Worth
. Today the house is owned by Shaneel Enterprises, entrepreneurs of Indian descent, based in the UK. The director of the house is Martin McCarthy and the head designer, Giovanni Bedin.
History of Worth
Charles Frederick Worth was raised in Bourne, Lincolnshire
, and apprenticed as a draper in London for six years at Swan & Edgar
s, which specialized in fine wools and silks. In 1845, at the age of twenty-one, he set out to find his fortune in Paris
. He became an assistant draper at Maison Gagelin at 83 Rue Richelieu, where he was to remain for over ten years, rising to premier commis. Among his innovations was the introduction of ready-made muslin dress samples from which patrons could choose a style; he would then match the choice to an appropriate fabric.
At Gagelin's he met Marie Vernet, a demoiselle de maison who demonstrated the features of the cloths as draped on a moving woman. They were attracted to each other very early on, but owing to their limited incomes they did not marry until May 21, 1851. Maison Gagelin showed several of Worth's designs there and although they caused great consternation in their departure from current fashion, Gagelin was awarded a gold medal for France.
In 1858, Charles Worth established the custom of sewing branded labels into bespoke garments, created at Worth’s atelier in Paris, and would prepare a portfolio of dress designs which were shown on live models at the House of Worth. Clients would attend these shows, selecting a design, and specific colors and fabrics, so a duplicate garment could be tailor-made in Worth’s workshop. Worth combined his individual tailoring with a formula and standardization more characteristic of the ready-to-wear clothing industry today, which at that time was just beginning to emerge.
His sons, Gaston-Lucien (1853–1924) and Jean-Philippe (1856–1926), took over their father's business following his death in 1895 and succeeded in maintaining his high standards. In 1936, the House of Worth showed a first collection at 120 rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, under the direction of a fourth generation of the Worth family, Jacques and Roger.
The great fashion dynasty finally came to an end in 1952 when Charles Frederick Worth's great-grandson, Jean-Charles (1881–1962), retired from the family business. In 1954, the House merged with Paquin
. Then in 1956 was closed.
Dans La Nuit (1924)
Vers le Jours (1925)
Sans Adieu (1929)
Je Reviens (1932)
Vers Toi (1934)
“Perfume Diaries” Exhibition by Roja Dove
as the centerpiece of the event, amid some of the world’s finest perfumes. Today the heritage edition of Je Reviens will be exclusively available at Harrods
and will retain the classic blue architectural ridged bottle, which dates back to the perfume’s original incarnation.
The return of The House of Worth
Still sustained by the energy and vibrancy of Charles Worth’s philosophy and creativity 150 years on, the House of Worth, has re-emerged at the forefront of luxury. A network of inspired individuals today has drawn on Worth’s approach to couture to revitalise la maison. Mehta and McCarthy recently combined their intellectual properties for WORTH perfume and apparel, respectively, meaning, for the first time since the 1920s, the House is reunited and restored.
The narrative of the House of Worth story resumed in January 2010 with a revival couture collection by Giovanni Bedin. The Spring/Summer collection was unveiled in Paris
at Les Salons France-Amêriques and the winter collection in Milan
. Bedin's exquisite corsets and tutus with clouds of tulle and antique lace echo heritage and past elegance, synonymous with Charles Frederick Worth
and has already led to Scarlett Johansson
, Kylie Minogue
and Charlize Theron
pledging their loyalty.
Martin McCarthy is a fashion entrepreneur who started his career at Gianfranco Ferrè
and has designed and guided lifestyle collections for Harley Davidson, Nino Cerruti
, Calvin Klein
, Celine
, Ralph Lauren
, BMW
and Trussardi. Today he is Executive Director of Development for the entire WORTH project, and key to the direction of the Worth names.
Giovanni Bedin for WORTH COUTURE
Giovanni Bedin was commissioned to design the WORTH Haute Couture. Born in Vicenza
into a family of tailors, specializing in the art of made-to-measure and after completing a degree in accounting, Bedin studied at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne
. After this he joined Karl Lagerfeld
’s studios - A wonderful experience that taught me a lot about ways to work as well as a way to live" - and further projects lead him to work alongside Thierry Mugler
. Since working for WORTH, he has explored the immensely rich archives which have been a fundamental inspiration behind Bedin’s recreations of the essence and elegance of Worth’s era.
The spectacle of couture
is just one aspect of the restored House of Worth. Complementing this is a presentation of Worth Paris’s Le Prêt-a-Porter simultaneously in Milan
. Worth’s Je Reviens perfume will be relaunched, followed in 2011 by the House of Worth’s Lingerie and Worth accessories, such as couture jewelry and bespoke gloves.
WORTH PARIS - Le Prêt-a-Porter
Complementing WORTH Couture the House of Worth is simultaneously presenting WORTH PARIS Le Prêt-a-Porter for Spring/Summer 2011 in Milan. With regards to Le Prêt-a-Porter, WORTH PARIS introduces a true hybrid between Ready to Wear and its couture, using its valuable experience and ethos. The pieces will be special enough to be shown alongside the COUTURE pieces yet, they will be more wearable for their lives in the contemporary busy, everyday lifestyle where they belong.
Charles Frederick Worth
Charles Frederick Worth , widely considered the Father of Haute couture, was an English fashion designer of the 19th century, whose works were produced in Paris.-Career:...
. Today the house is owned by Shaneel Enterprises, entrepreneurs of Indian descent, based in the UK. The director of the house is Martin McCarthy and the head designer, Giovanni Bedin.
History of Worth
Charles Frederick Worth was raised in Bourne, Lincolnshire
Bourne, Lincolnshire
Bourne is a market town and civil parish on the western edge of the Fens, in the District of South Kesteven in southern Lincolnshire, England.-The town:...
, and apprenticed as a draper in London for six years at Swan & Edgar
Swan & Edgar
Swan & Edgar Ltd was a department store, located at Piccadilly Circus, London. It was established in the early 19th century. The premises were rebuilt and integrated in 1910-20 to a design by Sir Reginald Blomfield and became a popular place of assignation for Londoners for many generations...
s, which specialized in fine wools and silks. In 1845, at the age of twenty-one, he set out to find his fortune in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He became an assistant draper at Maison Gagelin at 83 Rue Richelieu, where he was to remain for over ten years, rising to premier commis. Among his innovations was the introduction of ready-made muslin dress samples from which patrons could choose a style; he would then match the choice to an appropriate fabric.
At Gagelin's he met Marie Vernet, a demoiselle de maison who demonstrated the features of the cloths as draped on a moving woman. They were attracted to each other very early on, but owing to their limited incomes they did not marry until May 21, 1851. Maison Gagelin showed several of Worth's designs there and although they caused great consternation in their departure from current fashion, Gagelin was awarded a gold medal for France.
In 1858, Charles Worth established the custom of sewing branded labels into bespoke garments, created at Worth’s atelier in Paris, and would prepare a portfolio of dress designs which were shown on live models at the House of Worth. Clients would attend these shows, selecting a design, and specific colors and fabrics, so a duplicate garment could be tailor-made in Worth’s workshop. Worth combined his individual tailoring with a formula and standardization more characteristic of the ready-to-wear clothing industry today, which at that time was just beginning to emerge.
His sons, Gaston-Lucien (1853–1924) and Jean-Philippe (1856–1926), took over their father's business following his death in 1895 and succeeded in maintaining his high standards. In 1936, the House of Worth showed a first collection at 120 rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, under the direction of a fourth generation of the Worth family, Jacques and Roger.
The great fashion dynasty finally came to an end in 1952 when Charles Frederick Worth's great-grandson, Jean-Charles (1881–1962), retired from the family business. In 1954, the House merged with Paquin
Jeanne Paquin
Jeanne Paquin was a French fashion designer, known for her resolutely modern and innovative designs.Born in Saint-Denis in 1869, Paquin trained as a dressmaker at Rouff and later opened her own fashion house in 1891, the first woman to ever do so...
. Then in 1956 was closed.
Les Parfums Worth
Worth was one of the first couture houses to extend its name to luxury perfume. In 1924 Les Parfums Worth launched the first fragrance, Dans La Nuit and recognising that presentation was crucial, Rene Lalique, the world renowned glass-maker, was commissioned to design the bottle. Worth's grandson Jacques continued the tradition and with the perfumer Maurice Blanchet struck on the romantic notion of a fragrant love poem comprising five individual scents:Dans La Nuit (1924)
Vers le Jours (1925)
Sans Adieu (1929)
Je Reviens (1932)
Vers Toi (1934)
Je Reviens -past and present.
Je Reviens remains the most famous and revered of Worth's perfumes. Encapsulating the romance and elegance of Paris in the 1930s, the perfume reached formidable acclaim in the 1940s when it became a favoured gift from solder to their sweethearts. It is a truly timeless classic, transcending styles and trends. Je Reviens is currently being featured at the HarrodsHarrods
Harrods is an upmarket department store located in Brompton Road in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The Harrods brand also applies to other enterprises undertaken by the Harrods group of companies including Harrods Bank, Harrods Estates, Harrods Aviation and Air...
“Perfume Diaries” Exhibition by Roja Dove
Roja Dove
Roja Dove is a fragrance specialist, fragrance historian, and possibly the world's most famous nose, an affectionate name for a perfumer...
as the centerpiece of the event, amid some of the world’s finest perfumes. Today the heritage edition of Je Reviens will be exclusively available at Harrods
Harrods
Harrods is an upmarket department store located in Brompton Road in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The Harrods brand also applies to other enterprises undertaken by the Harrods group of companies including Harrods Bank, Harrods Estates, Harrods Aviation and Air...
and will retain the classic blue architectural ridged bottle, which dates back to the perfume’s original incarnation.
The return of The House of Worth
Still sustained by the energy and vibrancy of Charles Worth’s philosophy and creativity 150 years on, the House of Worth, has re-emerged at the forefront of luxury. A network of inspired individuals today has drawn on Worth’s approach to couture to revitalise la maison. Mehta and McCarthy recently combined their intellectual properties for WORTH perfume and apparel, respectively, meaning, for the first time since the 1920s, the House is reunited and restored.
The narrative of the House of Worth story resumed in January 2010 with a revival couture collection by Giovanni Bedin. The Spring/Summer collection was unveiled in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
at Les Salons France-Amêriques and the winter collection in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. Bedin's exquisite corsets and tutus with clouds of tulle and antique lace echo heritage and past elegance, synonymous with Charles Frederick Worth
Charles Frederick Worth
Charles Frederick Worth , widely considered the Father of Haute couture, was an English fashion designer of the 19th century, whose works were produced in Paris.-Career:...
and has already led to Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...
, Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
and Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is a South African actress, film producer and former fashion model.She rose to fame in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil's Advocate and The Cider House Rules...
pledging their loyalty.
Martin McCarthy is a fashion entrepreneur who started his career at Gianfranco Ferrè
Gianfranco Ferrè
Gianfranco Ferré was a fashion designer also known as "the architect of fashion" for his background and his original attitude toward creating fashion design....
and has designed and guided lifestyle collections for Harley Davidson, Nino Cerruti
Nino Cerruti
Nino Cerruti is an Italian businessman and stylist, among the most famous in the world.He founded his own haute couture house Cerruti in 1967 in Paris...
, Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
, Celine
Celine
- People with the family name Celine :* Louis-Ferdinand Céline, pen name of French author Louis-Ferdinand Destouches- People with the given name Celine :* Céline Dion, , French-Canadian pop singer.* Celine Helgemo, Norwegian singer...
, Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer and business executive; best known for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing brand.-Early life:...
, BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
and Trussardi. Today he is Executive Director of Development for the entire WORTH project, and key to the direction of the Worth names.
Giovanni Bedin for WORTH COUTURE
Giovanni Bedin was commissioned to design the WORTH Haute Couture. Born in Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
into a family of tailors, specializing in the art of made-to-measure and after completing a degree in accounting, Bedin studied at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne
Fédération française de la couture
The Fédération française de la couture, du prêt-à-porter des couturiers et des créateurs de mode is the French fashion industry governing clothing. The Federation was created in 1973, growing out of an older trade union , the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture parisienne which was created in...
. After this he joined Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld is a German fashion designer, artist and photographer based in Paris. He has collaborated on a variety of fashion and art related projects, most notably as head designer and creative director for the fashion house Chanel...
’s studios - A wonderful experience that taught me a lot about ways to work as well as a way to live" - and further projects lead him to work alongside Thierry Mugler
Thierry Mugler
Thierry Mugler is a French fashion designer and creator of several perfumes.-Childhood:Mugler was born in Strasbourg, France on 21 December 1948. His passion led him to focus more on drawing than on school and at the age of 9, he began to study classical dance...
. Since working for WORTH, he has explored the immensely rich archives which have been a fundamental inspiration behind Bedin’s recreations of the essence and elegance of Worth’s era.
The spectacle of couture
Couture
-Places in France:* Couture, Charente, in the Charente département* Couture-d'Argenson, in the Deux-Sèvres département* Couture-sur-Loir, in the Loir-et-Cher département-People:* Randy Couture , American mixed martial arts fighter...
is just one aspect of the restored House of Worth. Complementing this is a presentation of Worth Paris’s Le Prêt-a-Porter simultaneously in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. Worth’s Je Reviens perfume will be relaunched, followed in 2011 by the House of Worth’s Lingerie and Worth accessories, such as couture jewelry and bespoke gloves.
WORTH PARIS - Le Prêt-a-Porter
Complementing WORTH Couture the House of Worth is simultaneously presenting WORTH PARIS Le Prêt-a-Porter for Spring/Summer 2011 in Milan. With regards to Le Prêt-a-Porter, WORTH PARIS introduces a true hybrid between Ready to Wear and its couture, using its valuable experience and ethos. The pieces will be special enough to be shown alongside the COUTURE pieces yet, they will be more wearable for their lives in the contemporary busy, everyday lifestyle where they belong.