Karl Lagerfeld founded his brand in his namesake in 1984 in Paris, after decades of success in the fashion industry which earned him iconic status in the fashion world and beyond. Lagerfeld was highly respected for his cutting-edge designs and outlooks on fashion. After his death in 2019, Hun Kim became Design Director of the brand, working collaboratively with Carine Roitfeld as Style Advisor. Main shareholders in the company are Fred Gehring and Silas Chou, with the PVH group owning a smaller stake.
Karl Lagerfeld produces womenswear, menswear, kids clothing, bags and accessories. The company’s creatives honour the founder’s aesthetic of Parisian style mixed with rock chic elements. They look to Lagerfeld’s creativity and passion in order to consistently be a forward-thinking brand. From this, Karl Lagerfeld designs are contemporary and powerful. The collections are wearable and modern, featuring a largely monochromatic colour palette dotted with bold and fun details, such as a cartoon Lagerfeld. Striking branding is often used, making pieces instantly recognisable. The overall outcome is cool and effortless while fashionable. The collection offers pieces for day-to-day wear seen in sweaters and t-shirts, as well as more smart designs such as sharp shirts and elegant dresses.
In 2018 and again in 2019, Karl Lagerfeld collaborated with Puma, creating sports apparel and trainers. Following a signature mainly monochromatic palette, the collabs combined comfort with style, streetwear with chic, influenced by urban styles.
There are over 200 Karl Lagerfeld stores worldwide, in cities such as Munich, New York, Shanghai and London. Purchases can be made from their website, as well as from Farfetch, House of Fraser and Yoox.