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PIERRE
BALMAIN
great French couturier
May 18, 1914 - June 29, 1982
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Born on May 18, 1914 in SAINT-JEAN-DE-MAURIENNE
(SAVOIE), Pierre BALMAIN leaves his hometown at the age of
11 to study in CHAMBERY then in PARIS to start a career as
an architect, following his mother's wishes.
But young Pierre had another conception of his future, and
after drawing a few sketches for a Lido show, he enters in
1934 the house of Captain Molyneux, undisputed master of elegance.
In 1939 he joins Lucien Lelong who offers him a well-paid
job.
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The war then breaks out, and he is mobilized in Maurienne.
Demobilized in 1940, he goes to his mother's in AIX-LES-BAINS
where she is keeping a shop. There he meets the American
writer Gertrude STEIN for whom he cuts a few modest pieces
due to the general scarcity of materials.
During a visit in SAVOIE, Lucien Lelong suggests that he
should go back to PARIS. He then shares with Christian DIOR
the responsibility for the creations of the future Lelong
collections. Among the first successes, he presents a very
simple-looking dress called "Petit Profit". This famous
black crepe dress was ordered by 360 clients who got crazy
about it.
As early as 1945, Pierre BALMAIN opens his own house Rue
François 1er.
He creates models for show-business stars : Germaine Montero,
Marlène Dietrich, Michèle Morgan, Katherine Hepburn, Brigitte
Bardot, Sophia Loren, Dalida... and he is called upon to
create models for princely marriages.
At the same time, he gets orders for the creation of uniforms
for Social Security hostesses (1964), for the Grenoble Olympics
(1968), for Singapore, Kuweit and Thailand airline companies
, and for the first woman Préfet (1974).
His passion for travelling will take him to Thaïland where
Queen Sirikit will order a full wardrobe. During a trip
to Thailand in 1972, he will experience the first symptoms
of a disease that was to strike him down in the full swing
of his creative passion on June 29, 1982.
From his grandfather Alexandre, a travelling salesman born
in SAINT SORLIN D'ARVES, Pierre BALMAIN undoubtedly inherited
his passion for travelling and adventure. Proud of his Savoyard
origins, he always kept very close to his family and friends.
His ashes were dispersed by his collaborator Monsieur Erik
Mortensen in Combe de la Balme, in Maurienne, at the foot
of the Saint Sorlin glacier.
Evelyne DOMPNIER
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Maison du Tourisme 73530 Saint Sorlin d'Arves
- Tel. 0033 (0)4 79 59 71 77 - Fax: 0033 (0)4 79 59 75 50 - E-mail
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