Karl Lagerfeld was a German creative director, fashion designer, photographer, and caricaturist. He gained widespread fame for being the creative director of the French fashion house ‘Chanel’ from 1983 until his demise in 2019. He was also, the director of the fashion house ‘Fendi’ as well as his eponymous label. The Karl Lagerfeld line was founded in 1984 and in his own words would channel ‘intellectual sexiness’. His designs blurred the lines of both masculine and feminine stereotypes and they were either black or white.
Along with his many fashion pursuits as a creative director, designer, and photographer, his designs are known to have a ‘rock chic’ feel to them and include a wide range of women’s and men’s ready-to-wear and accessories.
The brand is composed of a distinct and more affordable line called Karl Lagerfeld Paris. Being the caricaturist that he was, this brand depicts cartoonish details of Karl’s signature look. From his greyed ponytail, starched high collars, black shades, and giant logos of his name plastered on his designs, this line of the famed brand is more whimsical.
Where are Karl Lagerfeld bags made?
Karl Lagerfeld bags include a diverse range of suitcases, briefcases, cross body bags, waist bags, backpacks, purses, cardholders, raffia, tote bags, etc. A majority of these bags are made of original leather, lamb leather, cow leather and more recently, fabric made from organic recycled cotton and leather from the cactus plant, which is also vegan.
Karl Lagerfeld bags are manufactured in China.
Karl Lagerfeld X Amber Valletta 2021
Amber Valletta, who is an avid sustainability ambassador and an artistic inspiration of Karl’s, collaborated with the brand on a collection of sustainable and eco-friendly fashion accessories. These designs including the K/Kushion bag which was dear to the late Karl were carefully crafted with sustainable materials, and obtained with less ecological impact.
The K/Kushion bag has a rich and sentimental history attached to it. It is inspired by a tailor-made cushion that Karl always had with him as he traveled the world. This cushion was from Karl’s childhood and although withered and worn, he designed the K/Kushion bag and it perfectly mimicked his beloved childhood cushion with its pillowy fluffy texture.
As seen in this earthy beautiful green colour, the K/Kushion bag comes in two versions. This version is carefully crafted from vegan cactus leather, which is recyclable and eco-friendly. Since it is derived from the cactus plant, this organic material is plant-based and contains organic carbon content. This cacti-based material is referred to as ‘desserto’ and is manufactured in Mexico by a brand of the same name.
Desserto is made by drying cactus leaves after they have been crushed and then having them processed into beautiful eco-friendly leather.
The cactus plant is known for its high water retention abilities therefore in the crafting of this eco-friendly cactus leather, there was no water wastage and no irrigation was required. These bags are designed in different colours and each colour pigment used is organic.
The second version of the K/Kushion bag is made of 90% recycled cotton and comes in a neutral sandy shade. This fabric is certified by the Global Recycle Standard (GRS). This organization sets the requirement for third party accreditation of recycled materials.
This bag is designed with a signature stitching style in a quilted pattern, and attached is a cord made of GRS approved recycled cotton.
Proceeds made from the sale of the K/Kushion bag will be donated to The Ocean Clean-up. It is a non-profit organization, which aims to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. According to Amber, this collaboration shows that responsibly made fashion is possible, without the sacrifice of great style.
Karl Lagerfeld X Amber Valletta Capsule Collection 2022
For their follow up collaboration, Karl Lagerfeld and Amber’s new collection which launched on the 7th of April, incorporates a few new sustainable fabrics for their fashion accessories. The ground-breaking Desserto leather made of cactus leaves is very much present, as well as the GRS-certified recycled cotton.
The latest additions of eco-friendly fabrics to this year’s collection include the GRS-certified recycled linen, and upcycled Austrian material ‘Tencel Refibra’ by Lenzing.
This collection has included timeless pieces as chosen by both Amber and the brand as this fits with the goal of sustainability, as well as longevity of the collection. Inspired by the theme of timeless fashion, Amber chose timeless pieces like the biker jacket, a suit, and a little black dress.
The stand-out pieces of the capsule collection are the leather Pleated bag and the Odina biker jacket.
The Lessons of Karl Lagerfeld
The ‘Kaiser’ Karl Lagerfeld was the king of restoration. He was considered the Chameleon of the fashion industry because he could fuse the history of great fashion houses with the modern-day ambience. Karl often shared a lot of great lessons that every iconic luxury brand or person should adapt.
That luxury is more than just quality and expenses, it is also a state of mind. That it is never too late to reinvent yourself. As seen with the revival of Chanel which was once a dying fashion house, the Karl Lagerfeld touch has revived it and has stood tall for almost 40 years. That luxury meant resisting continual pressure. Rejecting conformity creates great sense of identity and a brand that is timeless. You should never be afraid to break the rules. The fear of change can make a brand stagnant but sometimes taking a risk can actually pay off and be highly rewarding.
Conclusion
Karl Lagerfeld’s legacy and tenacity are to be studied and revered. The brand’s new sustainability-inspired collection explicitly shows Karl Lagerfeld’s gift for reinvention. It would be exciting to see the various ways in which the brand goes ‘green’ with new eco-friendly pieces and designs.
Where was Karl Lagerfeld from?
Hamburg, Germany.
Where are Karl Lagerfeld bags made?
Karl Lagerfeld bags are manufactured in China.
Did Karl Lagerfeld and Coco Chanel ever meet?
No. Coco Chanel had been gone 12 years before Karl Lagerfeld took over the fashion house.
Is Karl Lagerfeld a high-end brand?
Karl Lagerfeld is a luxury brand and also has the Karl Lagerfeld Paris which is a more affordable line.
