Nicole Farhi

Nicole Farhi, Lady Hare, CBE (born 25 July 1946) is a noted former French fashion designer, born in Nice. In mid-career in London she took up sculpture and, on retirement from the fashion industry, became a sculptor. Background Born on the French Riviera, Farhi is the daughter of Sephardic Jews who immigrated to France from Turkey after World War I. Her father sold rugs and lighting. She attended synagogue with her grandparents. Members of her family endured concentration camps during the Second World War. Farhi studied both art and fashion in early 1960s Paris and, needing to be self-sufficient, started her career as a freelancer there 1967 before moving to London in 1969. Career in fashion In 1978, Farhi was employed by Stephen Marks to head up the company's design studio in Bow, East London, on his French Connection label. She was given a free hand to design. She was also commissioned to design theatre and cinema costumes. In 1982 Marks assisted Farhi in launching the eponymous Nicole Farhi high-end fashion label within the French Connection group. The label opened shops worldwide, including London and New York in 1999. The success of her first label was followed by Nicole Farhi for Men in 1989. The Nicole Farhi Home Collection was launched in 1998 and a concept store named 202 opened in 2002, featuring homeware, clothing lines and all day brasserie. On 15 March 2010, French Connection announced the sale of the brand and retail chains to OpenGate Capital for up to £5 million. Entering administration in 2013, the labels had six stores, supplied major stores like John Lewis and had concessions in other department stores. Administrators Zolfo Cooper were appointed on 3 July 2013 to advise on sale or restructuring of the UK shops and associated retail outlets located within Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser and Selfridges.