Jeanne Paquin
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1869
Jeanne Paquin | |
|---|---|
 Madame Paquin | |
| Born | Jeanne Marie Charlotte Beckers 1869 Saint-Denis, France |
| Died | 1936 (aged 66–67) Paris, France |
| Occupation(s) | Couturière, fashion designer |
| Label | Maison Paquin (House of Paquin) |
| Spouse | Isidore Rene Jacob dit Paquin |
Jeanne Paquin (French pronunciation: [ʒan pakɛ̃]) (1869–1936) was a French fashion designer, known for her modern and innovative designs. She was the first major female couturier and one of the pioneers of the modern fashion business.[1]
Jeanne Marie Charlotte Beckers was born in 1869, at the gates of Paris, at St. Denis.[2] Her father was a physician.[1] Her mother was born on a farm in the Berry. Mother of five by two husbands-the first was a doctor and Mme Paquin's father-she brought up the children herself. Her family consisted of six, for to her own offspring was added a young cousin, adopted principally because there was no one else to adopt her.[2][3]
Sent out to work as a young teenager, Jeanne trained as a dressmaker at Rouff (a Paris couture house established in 1884 and located on Boulevard Haussmann[4][5]). She quickly rose through to ranks becoming première, in charge of the atelier.[1]
In 1891, Jeanne Marie Charlotte Beckers married Isidore René Jacob, who was also known as Paquin. Isidore owned Paquin Lalanne et cie, a couture house which had grown out of a menswear shop in the 1840s. The couple renamed the company Paquin and set about building the business.[1]
In 1900, Jeanne was instrumental in organizing the Universal Exhibition and she was elected president of the Fashion Section.[6][7] Her designs were featured prominently at the Exhibition[7] and Jeanne created a mannequin of herself for display.[1]
Isidore Paquin died in 1907 at the age of 45, leaving Jeanne a widow at 38. Over 2,000 people attended Isidore's funeral. After Isidore's death, Jeanne dressed mostly in black and white.[1]
Probably Jeanne would have undermined even her robust health, were it not for her mother, who watcheed over her, solicitous for her comfort and happiness, as if she were still a small child. Freshlooking, with blue eyes, the mother resided with her daughter, in her flat in the Rue de Presbourg, near the Arc de Triomphe, overlooking a pleasant garden.[2]
During World War I, Jeanne served as president of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture.[8] She was the first woman to serve as president of an employers syndicate in France.[9]
