Charles Frederick Worth (October 13, 1825 – March 10, 1895), widely considered the Father of Haute Couture, was an English-born fashion designer of the 19th century.
Born in Bourne, Lincolnshire*, England, Worth made his mark in the French fashion industry. He worked at several prosperous London drapery shops before moving to Paris in 1846. He was hired by Gagelin and Opigez, well-known Parisian drapers. While working in their shop, he married on...
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Charles Frederick Worth (October 13, 1825 – March 10, 1895), widely considered the Father of Haute Couture, was an English-born fashion designer of the 19th century.
Born in Bourne, Lincolnshire*, England, Worth made his mark in the French fashion industry. He worked at several prosperous London drapery shops before moving to Paris in 1846. He was hired by Gagelin and Opigez, well-known Parisian drapers. While working in their shop, he married one of the firm's models, Marie Vernet. Marie would model shawls and bonnets for prospective customers. Worth made a few simple dresses for his wife and customers started to ask for copies of the dresses as well.
Worth, by now a junior partner in the firm, urged his partners to expand into dressmaking, but they hesitated to risk their reputation in a business as low-class as dressmaking. Worth found a wealthy Swede, Otto Bobergh, who was willing to bankroll the venture and opened the dressmaking establishment of Worth and Bobergh in 1858. Worth...
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