Coco Chanel: From orphan to powerful fashion icon

After the passing of his mother, Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel (real name of Coco Chanel) was sent to an orphanage by her father. Here, she was taught sewing, the first foundation for developing an illustrious career many years later. Lifeconfined within the camp grounds made the young girlGabriellealways curious, eager to learn everything around. The older,Gabrielle is more beautiful. GHer beautiful voice and beauty helped her stand out from the other children in the camp. This advantage made the young girl dream of becoming a singer.

At the age of 18,GAbrielle leaves the orphanage and sets out to fulfill her cherished dream.Her singing career began in the cabarets of Vichy and Moulins in France withstage nameCoco. However, the young girl's dream was soon shattered by the harsh reality. She often witnessed drunkenness, the teasing and laughter of lustful people, and the pitfalls of society...Not long afterGabrielle gave up singing.

Giving up on her career, Gabrielle lived a life without goals until she met Etienne Balsan, a French tailor. This fateful encounter steered Coco's destiny in a different direction. She began to conceive the idea of ​​​​a women's fashion business. Later, she had a relationship with a rich man. Recognizing Coco's natural talent, both her boyfriend and Etienne wholeheartedly supported her.invest money in her design career.

Coco started her business with cChanel hat shopon Rue Cambon in Paris. As the business grew, Coco opened two more stores and hired workers. At this time, she also sold her own designed clothes. Coco's products attracted the attention of women.This gave her the motivation to pursue her new passion.

Not stopping at mere creativity, Coco began to innovate. She believed:"A woman needs two elements: elegance and pride." Therefore, her designs highlight elegant feminine lines, becoming products that many women desire.

Women's ankle-revealing mini skirt and pants designCoco contributed to changing the concept of fashion in the 19th century.. They give women confidence, comfort and freedom. After that, a series of other famous products were born. Among them, bcostumeanother collarless top and a beautifully decorated inner skirtmade the Coco Chanel brand, thanks to knowing how to combinecomfort in menswear and tradition in women's dresses. Her new designs helpedfree women from constricting corsets.

Personality ofCoco also expressed herself through the color of her clothes. Accordingly, she chose black,very popular in funeralsinto the collectionLittle Black Dress. The talented designer has proven that outfits with sad colors can be elegant and enhance women's beauty.She also created costumes for many famous art performances. Her interactions during her work led to her developing feelings for the Russian composer and pianist, Igor Stravinsky.

Not only is he a popular designer,Coco is famous for her first perfume -Chanel No. 5 was named after herself. She believed: "A woman who does not use perfume has no future", so for Coco, perfume was a symbol of beauty, an unforgettable impression.

The fragrance business is booming with many dThe businessman backed the development of a new line of perfumes, includingWertheimer family, a big name in the French cosmetics industry. The Wertheimer company imported Chanel No. 5 equivalent to 70% of Coco's profits for many years. The first perfume invention brought the designer a huge amount of money but also encountered many troublesome economic lawsuits.

While on the rise, Coco's company is struggling due to the general world situation.The global economic crisis that followed the outbreak of World War II forced her to close her company, lay off workers, and shut down her Chanel chain of stores. During the war,Coco met and fell in love with a German military officer. This relationship caused her to suffer a lot of criticism from society, some people even considered Coco a traitor to her country.Public pressure forced the French designer to leave Paris and exile to Switzerland.

News aboutCoco didn't appear until 1953.She once again returned to her dream of becoming a fashion designer at the age of70. Chanel's designs during this time were criticized by critics, but won the hearts of women around the world thanks to their feminine, elegant, and highly practical designs. The career of one of the oldest designers in the fashion world flourished in the following years. The Chanel brand gradually gained a foothold in the luxury fashion market.

On January 10, 1971, Coco Chanel passed away at her home at the age of 88. At her funeral, hundreds of people dressed in costumes designed by her gathered and mourned the "beauty but ill-fated" woman.

Coco never married. Her turbulent life inspired the musical.Cocoon Broadway in the US. The work received seven Tony Award nominations and two awards for Best Costume Design and Best Actor.

Over the decades, generations of CEOs have led Chanel to become one of the world's most iconic luxury brands. Chanel is currently owned by the Wertheimer family and run by CEO Alain Wertheimer.