Guide to High-fashion brands (Founder, Current Creative Di., short History)

All information based on NSS Magazine's "A guide to all creative directors" and the brands' respective Wikipedia and other history pages.

Acne Studios

Founded: 1996, Stockholm (Sweden), Jonny Johansson (Sweden)

Current Creative Director: Jonny Johansson (Sweden) (picture)

History: Acne Studios was founded in 1996 in Stockholm, Sweden as part of the creative collective ACNE that focused on graphic design, film, production and advertising.In 1997, cofounder Jonny Johansson created 100 pairs of raw denim Jeans with red stitching and gave them away to friends and family. Wallpaper* and Vogue Paris quickly picked up on the popularity of the jeans and Acne Studios rapidly expanded their fashion offering outside of denim.

Alaïa

Founded: 1997, France, Azzedine Alaïa (Tunisia) († 2017) (Above)

Current Creative Director: Pieter Mulier (Belgium) (since 2021) (Below)

History: Founded in 1964 by Tunisian-born couturier Azzedine Alaïa, the luxury Parisian brand is renowned for its sculptural, body-hugging silhouettes and masterful use of leather and intricate knits. Acquired by the Richemont group in 2007, the house has been led by Belgian creative director Pieter Mulier since 2021.

Alexander Mcqueen

Founded: 1992, England, Alexander McQueen (England) († 2010) (Above)

Current Creative Director: Sean McGirr (Ireland) (since 2023) (Below)

History: The Alexander McQueen brand was founded by the designer Alexander McQueen in 1992.^[5] The house's early collections developed its reputation for controversy and shock tactics (earning the title "l'enfant terrible" and "the hooligan of English fashion"), with trousers aptly named "bumsters" and a collection entitled Highland R*pe.

AMBUSH

Founded: 2012, Japan, Yoon Ahn (USA-Korea) (picture)

Current Creative Director: Yoon Ahn (USA-Korea)

History: Ambush, before officially debuting in 2012, gained initial international attention from the famous Ambush "Pow!" pendant. Ambush became an immediate success soon after its official launch. Jewelry designs often include heavy and bold motifs as seen in the brand's collection of gold chainmail accessories and line of earrings re-inspired from everyday objects. While the brand initially started as a couture jewelry line, Ambush expanded its couture offerings to encompass unisex high-fashion streetwear that complemented the line's jewelry in 2015.

Ann Demeulemeester

Founded: 1985, Belgium, Ann Demeulemeester (Belgium) (untill 2020, kept advising role) (above)

Current Creative Director: Stefano Gallici (Italy) (since 2023) (below)

History: Ann Demeulemeester launched her eponymous label in 1985 with her husband and creative partner, Patrick Robyn. Known as one of the influential Antwerp Six, the brand became globally celebrated for its dark romanticism, fluid tailoring, monochromatic color palette, and poetic, rebellious spirit. Yes. From the very beginning of her label, Ann Demeulemeester based her collections almost exclusively on a black, white, and monochrome palette.

Balenciaga

Founded: 1917, Spain (HQ now in France), Cristóbal Balenciaga (Spain) († 1972) (Until 1968) (above)

Current Creative Director: Pierpaolo Piccioli (Italy) (Since 2025) (below)

History: The Balenciaga fashion house moved to Paris in 1937 due to the Spanish Civil War. Unlike many designers who primarily sketched, Balenciaga knew how to cut, sew, and construct his garments from start to finish. He revolutionized the 20th-century silhouette by moving away from corseted waists, introducing the cocoon coat, the sack dress, and the baby doll dress.

Balmain

Founded: 1945, France, Pierre Balmain (France) († 1982) (above)

Current Creative Director: Antonin Tron (Fance) (Since 2025) (below)

History: The brand pioneered post-war Parisian elegance with its opulent, curve-enhancing "Jolie Madame" aesthetic. Known for nipped-in waists and lavish embroidery. Well-known for its military-inspired aesthetic.

Bottega Veneta

Founded: 1966, Italy, Michele Taddei (Italy) (left) and Renzo Zengiaro (Italy) (right) (until 1990)

Current Creative Director: Louise Trotter (UK) (Since 2024) (below)

History: Founded by Michele Taddei and Renzo Zengiaro, the brand's name translates to "Venetian shop". In its early years, the founders pioneered the Intrecciato weaving technique, interlacing leather strips to create durable yet soft, logo-free handbags. Because they prioritized supreme craftsmanship over conspicuous branding, their iconic slogan became: "When your own initials are enough."

Burberry

Founded: 1856, UK, Thomas Burberry (UK) (until 1917) († 1926)

Current Creative Director: Daniel Lee (UK) (Since 2022)

History: Founded in 1856 by 21-year-old Thomas Burberry in Basingstoke, England, the brand transformed weather protection by inventing "gabardine" in 1879. This durable, breathable, and waterproof fabric birthed the legendary Burberry Trench Coat.

The iconic Burberry logo was born from a 1901 public competition. The Equestrian Knight Design (EKD) features a fully armored knight carrying a lance and shield (symbolizing protection) and a flag with the Latin word Prorsum (meaning "Forwards"). It represents the brand's long-standing heritage and forward-looking, pioneering spirit.

Calvin Klein

Founded: 1968, USA, Calvin Klein (until 2002) and Barry Schwartz (USA)

Current Creative Director: Veronica Leoni (Italy) (Since 2024)

History: Schwartz is the business half of Calvin Klein Inc.’s leadership, and without his industry savvy, Klein’s popular fashion designs could not have become so successful. Calvin Klein and his friend Barry Schwartz started their brand in New York in 1968 with just $10,000. The company grew from a small coat shop into a massive empire by inventing high-end designer jeans, minimalist sportswear, and provocative underwear ads.

Capucci

Founded: 1950, Italy, Roberto Capucci (until 2017) (Italy)

Current Creative Director: Mario Dice (Italy) (Since 2017)

History: The Capucchi fashion house is famous for turning clothes into sculptures. Earning the nickname "Sculptor of Silk", Capucci revolutionized fashion with structural designs like the 1958 "Box Line."

Céline

Founded: 1945, France, Céline Vipiana (until 1988) († 1997) (France)

Current Creative Director: Michael Rider (USA) (Since 2024)

History: Celine started in 1945 as a children's shoe shop. It grew into a luxury fashion house. The brand shifted to women's sportswear in 1960 and later added leather bags.

Chanel

Founded: 1910, France, Coco Chanel (until 1971) († 1971) (France)

Current Creative Director: Matthieu Blazy (France) (Since 2024)

History: The House of Chanel was founded in 1910 by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel. She transformed fashion by trading restrictive corsets for comfortable, casual luxury. Her vision introduced women to modern sportswear, the iconic Little Black Dress, and Chanel No. 5. Coco Chanel grew up in a convent orphanage, where nuns taught her to sew. She started in 1910 by opening a small hat boutique in Paris with financial help from a wealthy friend.

Christian Louboutin

Founded: 1991, France, Christian Louboutin (Co-partnered Creative Director with Jade Smith, see “history” for more info.) (France)

Current Creative Director: Jaden Smith (USA) (Since 2025)

History: Christian launched his luxury footwear brand in Paris in 1991. The iconic red-lacquered sole was born by accident a year later when Louboutin painted a prototype's sole with his assistant's red nail polish to give the shoe more "energy". Under the new partnership, Smith oversees all men's shoes, leather goods, and accessories. Meanwhile, Christian Louboutin remains at the house to continue guiding the overall vision and the women's collections

Coach (Coach New York)

Founded: 1941, USA, Lilian Cahn († 2013) (until 1961) & Miles Cahn († 2017) (until 1961) (USA)

Current Creative Director: Stuart Vevers (UK) (Since 2013)

History: Coach was founded in 1941, as a family-run workshop in a loft on 34th Street in Manhattan, with six leather-workers who made wallets and billfolds by hand. In 1946, Miles Cahn (1921–2017) and his wife Lillian Cahn joined the company. Six leather workers made wallets by hand. Owners Miles and Lillian Cahn modeled the leather after baseball gloves. The result was soft, tough, and famous.

Comme Des Garçons

Founded: 1969, Japan, Rei Kawakubo (Japan)

Current Creative Director: Rei Kawakubo

History: The brand's name was inspired by Françoise Hardy's 1962 song "Tous les garçons et les filles", particularly from the line "Comme les garçons et les filles de mon âge" ("like the boys and girls my age"). Revolutionized global fashion in 1981 with an avant-garde debut in Paris. Her radical aesthetic defied 1980s glamour by using frayed, asymmetrical, and oversized black garments, earning the label its status as "anti-fashion".

Courrèges

Founded: 1961, France, André Courrèges († 2016) & Coqueline Courrèges (until 1995)

Current Creative Director: Nicolas Di Felice (Belgium) (Since 2020)

History: The fashion house revolutionized 1960s fashion. Heavily inspired by space exploration, the brand became famous for its futuristic "Space Age" aesthetic, introducing the miniskirt, vinyl jackets, geometric cuts, and flat boots. André Courrèges trained as a civil engineer before working for a decade at the prestigious Balenciaga. This engineering background heavily influenced his designs, which relied on clean geometric shapes, precise lines, and brand-new synthetic materials like PVC and vinyl. The famous "AC" logo stands for André and Coqueline, not just André.