Which designer founded the House of Givenchy in 1952?

Hubert de Givenchy founded the House of Givenchy in 1952. The French designer opened his own Paris couture house after working in the ateliers of designers including Jacques Fath, Robert Piguet, Lucien Lelong, and Elsa Schiaparelli.

Givenchy’s first collection introduced “Les Séparables,” elegant blouses and skirts designed to be mixed and matched. The idea offered women a more flexible alternative to rigid, highly formal wardrobes and helped establish the refined but relaxed style associated with his name. His early success was remarkable: he founded the house when he was only 24.

A pivotal relationship began in 1953, when Givenchy met Cristóbal Balenciaga, whom he regarded as a mentor. Givenchy also became famous for dressing Audrey Hepburn, beginning a creative partnership that shaped both his public image and twentieth-century fashion. He designed many of Hepburn’s memorable looks, including the little black dress for Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

The house later expanded into fragrance, launching L’Interdit in 1957. That perfume was originally created for Hepburn and later released commercially.