Everything
Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard walks the runway after the Chanel show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2019 on October 2, 2018 in Paris, France. Photo by Dominique Charriau/WireImage
The fashion industry was shaken last week as the death of the prolific Karl Lagerfeld was announced. Leading Chanel, Fendi as well as his own eponymous label into the modern world, the designer captured the hearts of anyone lucky enough to have met him.
In the midst of preparing for his final Fendi show, Chanel CEO Alain Wertheimer revealed that longtime collaborator and right-hand woman Virginie Viard would take his place as the house’s creative director. Now, the second successor is ready to man the helm.
Reported by W Magazine, a press release has stated that the French fashion house will be run by co-artistic directors, Viard and now Eric Pfrunder. As noted by the Business of Fashion, Pfrunder’s official title will be artistic director of fashion image, while Viard will be artistic director of fashion collection.
Another close friend and colleague of The Kaiser, Pfrunder could be considered the left hand of Lagerfeld with the two men both starting at Chanel in 1983. According to WWD, back in 1987, Lagerfeld once complained to Pfrunder about the quality of images used in a press kit, so Pfrunder dared him to pick up a camera and try himself. “I said to Karl, ‘Okay, now you do it,’” he said.
A great testament to the talent and influence of the designer, Viard and Pfrunder are now entrusted to continue the legacy and empire Lagerfeld so successfully built.
