Percy Irausquin
Encyclopedia
Joseph Gregory Percy Irausquin (June 26, 1969 – August 14, 2008) was an Aruba
n-born Dutch
fashion designer and couturier
based in Amsterdam
. He was described by the Dutch media as "one of the most talented young designers in the Netherlands
." The Dutch national daily newspaper De Volkskrant
described his clothing
designs as "sexy and extravagant" and "fashionable but not fussy."
Irausquin was born in Oranjestad, Aruba
, on June 26, 1969. He graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie
, an art
and design
school in Amsterdam. His work was noticed by Christian Lacroix
, a high end French
fashion designer. Irausquin went to work for Lacroix in Paris
shortly after his graduation
. He later worked for Givenchy
with Hubert Barrere, a corset
specialist, and at the house of Christian Dior
.
Irausquin was named by Vogue Magazine as a prominent up-and-coming designer in 2007. His work was featured on the covers of several Dutch and international magazines, including Marie Claire
and Elle
. He held a fashion show at the Amsterdam Fashion Week
2008 just a few days before his death. He was once quoted in an interview as saying of his work, "I'm not one for complicated ideas. I'm not an innovator. I don't want to change the world. I just want to make it more beautiful."
Irausquin was found dead at his home in Amsterdam on August 14, 2008, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. He was buried in his native Aruba.
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
n-born Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
fashion designer and couturier
Couturier
A couturier is an establishment or person involved in the clothing fashion industry who makes original garments to order for private clients. A couturier may make what is known as haute couture. Such a person usually hires patternmakers and machinists for garment production, and is either employed...
based in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. He was described by the Dutch media as "one of the most talented young designers in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
." The Dutch national daily newspaper De Volkskrant
De Volkskrant
de Volkskrant is a national daily Dutch morning newspaper, the leading centre-left broadsheet, although now in tabloid size.-History:...
described his clothing
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
designs as "sexy and extravagant" and "fashionable but not fussy."
Irausquin was born in Oranjestad, Aruba
Oranjestad, Aruba
Oranjestad is the capital and largest city of Aruba, which is in the Caribbean north of Venezuela. Oranjestad is located on the southern coast near the western end of the island country...
, on June 26, 1969. He graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie
Gerrit Rietveld Academie
-Profile:More than 45% of the student population comes from abroad, originating from over 60 different countries around the world. Most of the classes are in English...
, an art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
and design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
school in Amsterdam. His work was noticed by Christian Lacroix
Christian Lacroix
Christian Marie Marc Lacroix is a French fashion designer. The name may also refer to the company he founded.-Early life:Lacroix was born in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône in southern France. At a young age he began sketching historical costumes and fashions. Lacroix graduated from high school in 1969...
, a high end French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
fashion designer. Irausquin went to work for Lacroix 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...
shortly after his graduation
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
. He later worked for Givenchy
Givenchy
Givenchy is a French brand of clothing, accessories, perfumes and cosmetics with Parfums Givenchy.The house of Givenchy was founded in 1952 by designer Hubert de Givenchy and is a member of Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture et du Pret-a-Porter...
with Hubert Barrere, a corset
Corset
A corset is a garment worn to hold and shape the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or medical purposes...
specialist, and at the house of Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
.
Irausquin was named by Vogue Magazine as a prominent up-and-coming designer in 2007. His work was featured on the covers of several Dutch and international magazines, including Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Marie Claire is a monthly women's magazine first published in France but also distributed in other countries with editions specific to them and in their languages. While each country shares its own special voice with its audience, the United States edition focuses on women around the world and...
and Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
. He held a fashion show at the Amsterdam Fashion Week
Fashion Week
A fashion week is a fashion industry event, lasting approximately one week, which allows fashion designers, brands or "houses" to display their latest collections in runway shows and buyers and the media to take a look at the latest trends. Most importantly, these events let the industry know...
2008 just a few days before his death. He was once quoted in an interview as saying of his work, "I'm not one for complicated ideas. I'm not an innovator. I don't want to change the world. I just want to make it more beautiful."
Irausquin was found dead at his home in Amsterdam on August 14, 2008, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. He was buried in his native Aruba.