Fashion - Jil Sander - part 2

A minimalist German fashion designer

classic - elegant - and....timeless

Success and expansion

Since 1978, Jil Sander marketed her first perfume

prominently featuring her countenance.

The owner of Lancaster Cosmetics allowed her financially

to run ads in glamorous magazines on a large scale for her fashion.

The fact that her creations were coordinates

which could all be easily combined with each other

became a popular characteristic.

Sander created the so-called onion look

layering various pieces of clothing in one outfit.

Later, licenses would be given for..

...eyewear and...

...leather accessory lines.

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In the 1980s, Sander's collections were first shown in Milan

to tackle the international markets more efficiently.

As a result, sales were steadily increasing.

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More fragrances were added to the cosmetics line.

The label's luxurious minimalism was a hit in the later 1990's.

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Jil Sander AG went public in 1989 and was sold to shareholders 

on the Frankfurt stock exchange among the 

first fashion houses to venture on such a step.

Sander used the new capital to expand in Asia and North America.

Her success overseas resulted in expensively furnished flagship stores

in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Taipei among a big number of others.

Sander personally overlooked the design of her stores and strict guidelines

were implemented for the sales staff on how to behave 

and where to stand in the boutiques.

At the Paris store, opened in 1993, the Jil Sander collections

could be shown on more than 9,000 square feet and four floors.

The space at 52 Avenue Montaigne in Paris

used to be French fashion designer Madeleine Vionnet's atelier and showroom,

a designer whose work has influenced Sander's.

In 1998 Jil Sander and German sportswear house Puma 

jointly launched a successful sneakers collection.

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New ownership

Jil Sander's success continued into the mid-1990s.

Her company survived the economic crisis in Asia.

She found success with a newly launched men's collection that had been

postponed several times before in 1997 and was described

as "precision-cut with an emphasis upon light fabrics".

A desire with Sander to concentrate more on the creative design

rather than the business, resulted in much praise and acclaim from the critics.

Nevertheless, Jil needed a financially strong partner realizing

that her company was steadily growing.

Jil Sander AG was no longer a small privately owned business.

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In 1999 Prada Group bought a 75 % share in her company,

Sander, remained creative designer and became chairwoman

in the new joint venture.

Six months later, in January 2000, 

Sander unexpectedly left after confrontations

with Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli, a quick-tempered Italian businessman.

An uncompromising perfectionist, Jil had refused to use cheaper fabrics

and to bring the traditionally slim fits in line with standard sizes,

as demanded by Bertelli in the context of drastic cost cuts

and a more affordable mainstream approach.

Bertelli also insisted on giving up the contributary workshops in Germany

in favor of the shops in Italy owned by Prada.

Thus, for the first time in many years, Jil was able 

to indulge in extensive travelling, sailing, going to the opera

and taking care of her gardens after her resignation but the fashion house floundered both creatively and financially without Jil Sander.

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Comeback and abandonment

Jil Sander returned to the company as head designer

and partner in a surprise decision in May 2003,

after her non compete clause had expired.

Officially, Bertelli "approached Ms. Sander and began negotiating a truce"

Ironically, Bertelli had, with regard to Sander's departure in 2000,

boldly stated before:

"A brand as strong as Jil Sander...

...doesn't need to rely on the name of a designer"

Sander's return was celebrated unanimously by the international press.

Sander's designs, bearing the JIL SANDER signature 

with a more feminine look, were a hit with both customers and critics.

Designing two collections which were both showcased in Milan,

Sander altered Prada-appointed designer 

Milan Vukmirovic's existing sketches for the men's collection,

redesigned some of the boutiques and audited the books herself.

However, in November 2004,

Jil Sander terminated cooperation with Prada for good and

resigned from her post again after insurmountable differences with Mr. Bertelli.

Prada announced in an official statement that

"the decision by Patrizio Bertelli...

and Ms. Sander to end her involvement in the company was amicable."

Jil Sander subsequently withdrew from the fashion world.

On March 17, 2009

Sander announced the creation of her own fashion consultancy.

The new company's first client was Fast Retailing of Japan

with its Uniqlo label for whom Jil Sander is overseeing

the design of womenswear and menswear collections called +J.

 

Jil Sander was awarded

the 'Bundesverdienstkreuz' by the Federal Republic of Germany

for her achievements in the fashion industry.

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Remarks: Pictures scanned from the 'Fashion folders' 
FALL/WINTER and SPRING COLLECTIONS 1987/1988

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Jil Sander's "Working Villa" in Hamburg, near the Alster lake
 

Tables from Flamant
Chairs from the Danish designer Hans Wegner, 1960s

 

Staircase designed by the New Yorker designer Michael Gabellini

Pictures from ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST, Oktober 2010 (German edition)
photographed by Jil Sander herself