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House of Worth Paris history

Who founded House of Worth?

For so many centuries, Paris has been the birthplace for a mode which revolutionized in the world of dress during the middle of the nineteenth century which diffused the appreciation of personality into it and entirely the new factor at that time- was the work of Englishman.

House of Worth

Charles Fredrick was born in 1825 at Bourne, Lincolnshire. He had a craving for artistic expression and thus established House of Worth later. During his early age, he began to show his interest in drapery as well as decoration.

His career began as an assistant in London with Swan and Edgar. But really he was a young man full of new ideas. Maybe, today his ideas may seem simple but at that time such a thing was unheard of.

When the founder of the House of Worth first came to Paris, he was a young man of originality along with great energy. Not only this, but he was a great genius for the creations of modes. He was able to make his name with Maison Gagelin as a clever designer.

Interior of Worth Paris Shop

Worth of House

The House of Worth was a French house which depicted high fashion that specialized in haute couture, ready-to-wear clothes as well as perfumes. In 1858, this historic house was founded by designer Charles Frederick Worth.

But it continued to operate until 1952 under his descendants but in 1956 it was finally closed. But again in 1999, The ‘House of Worth’ brand was revived.

Start of Worth Fashion House

He conceived the idea in Paris that they should be a dressmaking establishment where the women should be dress according to her type as well as personality. But this idea showed that he was more ahead of his surrounding so he left Gagelin after being as her partner for a short time. He started his idea in a small flat at 7, Rue de la Paix.

This site is now occupied by the palatial Maison Worth. The fame of him grew quickly and people started recognizing him as a genius. Furthermore, he became a great topic in all the salons.

The ability to develop unsuspected beauty was soon proved by Worth as he was very much original, was a great artist who had opinions of his own and could express them without fear or favour. He was also a distinction in his patrons.

House of Worth

Famous customers of House of Worth Dress

Empress Eugenie also heard gossip regarding his earlier patrons and soon became his most beautiful and faithful customer. The other great people who very his customers are Mme.  de Castiglione,  Mme. de Pourtales, Margherita of Italy and Elizabeth of Austria.

After years, House of Worth earned the title of ‘Court Dressmaker’. At Paris Exposition of 1855, Worth exhibited his wares and won first prize for a Court Mantle of his own design which was fully covered with embroidery in gold thread.

House of Worth Gowns

Worth wanted to use satin in an extensive manner for the designer gowns but at that time he was not satisfied with what he had that time. He desired to have something richer than what was produced by the Mills at Lyons. But under his directions, the Mills has reconstructed accordingly and the looms at Lyons produced richer satin than ever.

He also stimulated the manufacturing of embroidery and passementerie. He was the first one who started the manufacturing of laces copied from the design of real old laces.

He used the richer fur in the trimming of light materials and no use of inferior varieties of skin. House of Worth was the first one who adopted a technique of showing its creations on living mannequins.

In 1870, during the war of the Franco-Prussian War, the House of Worth was closed. Just before the war broke out he possessed the art of wrapping the ladies with Mantle or Indian shawls perfectly. When Mrs Charles Francklyn started her way to Paris, she shows that the gates of Paris were closed and Worth was behind the fortification.

But then there was news of his escape so she started the hunt for him and finally, she found him at last and then the shawl was draped by the artist in the perfect way. This tradition was left by the founder of the House to his successors which had been following faithfully.

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