Léo Marciano
| Company type | Société Anonyme |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | Leo Marciano |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Luxury goods |
Léo Marciano Paris is a French fashion house founded in 1970 by the designer Léo Marciano.
The house designed and retailed ready-to-wear and couture as well as leather goods, footwear and fashion accessories. While the Léo Marciano label is predominantly known for its womenswear, the company also ran a menswear line.
History
The brand was founded by Algerian-born French couturier Léo Marciano in 1970.
Trained in industrial design, Léo Marciano began a teaching career in drawing before shifting his direction towards garment design and opening his eponymous fashion house in the mid 60s.
Beginning with the creation of feminine silhouettes, notably dresses and blouses, his first pieces saw success among Paris’ boutiques and abroad.
The press developed an increased interest in his creations as they became more elaborate and began to constitute collections of coordinates in Italian silks and exclusive prints, fine wools and English tweeds and flannels. The French weekly “Jours de France” contributed to his success and it published his work.[1]
By 1972, the company had grown and Léo Marciano decided to build his own production atelier to fulfil orders and control the quality of his product line. In this atelier of over one hundred employees, he created a research space, using the highest performance technologies and cutting edge machinery to service a manufacturing of high standard.[2]
Léo Marciano was granted the “Couture” label by the French Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and became established in the luxury market.
The fashion house expanded and freestanding Léo Marciano boutiques opened in Paris’ at rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, rue de Cambon, rue François 1er, and avenue Victor Hugo. “Shop-in-shop” concessions also opened.
In Paris, Léo Marciano became the couturier of choice of women in politics; abroad, he dressed women in power notably Margaret Thatcher and Empress Farah Diba, as well as Princess Caroline de Monaco and a number of actresses such as the star of Orfeu Negro, Marpessa Dawn and Anny Duperey.
He collaborated with renowned photographers such as Guy Bourdin, Peter Knapp, Sam Levin, and Jean-Loup Sieff for the creation of the label’s look books and ad campaigns.
Japan
The Léo Marciano brand was established in Japan with the help of French multinational Péchiney Ugine Kuhlmann (PUK), which offered the brand the support needed to successfully develop commercial activities in Tokyo.
In 1978, thirty-five boutiques opened throughout the country.
Léo Marciano was the first European couturier to do business directly with Japan without having to go through the local intermediaries that controlled imports at the time.[3]
In Japan, he had the opportunity to work on the development and innovation of new materials. Commissioned by the Japanese multinational Toray, he collaborated on the development of a new material – alcantara – which he proceeded to use in his collections. Today, this material is world renowned and used in fashion, interior design, and even the automotive industry. [4]
Womenswear
In 1982, Léo Marciano launched a menswear line. The collection was introduced in its womenswear stores, which began to carry both lines.
The interest grew rapidly and a Léo Marciano stand alone menswear shop opened on rue Francois 1er. The menswear line was produced by Italian tailoring company Brioni.
End of activities
In 1985, Léo Marciano ceased his activities due to health reasons and closed the doors of the prosperous fashion house.
References
- ^ “Les Grandes Réussites: Léo Marciano Couturier,” Jours de France No 1207 – January 28 to February 3, 1978, p.22
- ^ “Les Grandes Réussites: Léo Marciano Couturier,” Jours de France No 1207 – January 28 to February 3, 1978, p.23
- ^ " Un Couturier Français à la conquête du Japon", Jours de France No 1216 – April 1 to 7, 1978, p. 71.
- ^ “Les Grandes Réussites: Léo Marciano Couturier,” Jours de France No 1207 – January 28 to February 3, 1978, p.24