French designers such as Coco Chanel, Christian Dior and Christian Louboutin have helped define the fashion world for centuries.
And in the shoe world, the red king sole certainly isn’t the only famous Parisian. Pierre Hardy, who sold a minority stake in his business to Hermés this week, has also been a well-known fashion force in the French capital for many years.
But you might not realize there are a host of other French designers who fly under the radar. In honor of Bastille Day, here is our list of names to know:
Bruno Frisoni, creative director of Roger Vivier: While the brand’s late namesake was a legend in Paris — he outfitted Queen Elizabeth II and made shoes for Dior — not everyone knows his successor. Frisoni has been at the helm of Vivier for 14 years and consistently crafts elegant, detailed looks season after season.
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Laurence Dacade launched her namesake line of cool, chic shoes back in 2003, but many people don’t know that the designer also does double duty for Chanel.
René Lacoste was a French tennis player who created the famous Lacoste polo shirt back in 1929. Today, Lacoste is a powerhouse casual brand with a large footwear business.
Robert Clergerie set up shop in 1981 in the small French town of Romans. His signature oxford became a fashion staple and continues to be a mainstay in the collection. Another French designer, Roland Mouret, now serves as Clergerie’s creative director.
Jérôme Dreyfuss, a big name in handbags, has been targeting the shoe market for the past two years. His wife, Isabel Marant, took the market by storm with her sneaker wedge several years ago.
