Founded in Paris in 1994 by designer Isabel Marant (born 1967), the brand became synonymous with effortless French style and bohemian chic. Marant studied at Studio Berçot and launched her first collection at Paris Fashion Week in 1995 with friends as models. She won the Award de la Mode (1997), Whirlpool Award for best female designer (1998), Contemporary Designer of the Year at Elle Style Awards (2014), and Fashion Designer of the Year at British Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards (2012). The brand opened its first boutique on Rue de Charonne in Paris in 1998 (still operational). In 2000, Marant launched Étoile, a more affordable and casual diffusion line. Menswear followed in 2017, and eyewear (via Safilo licensing) in 2021. Signature pieces include the Bekkett wedge sneakers (sold over 1 million copies), slouchy pirate boots, distressed denim, frilly blouses, and micro-floral-print dresses. The brand’s 2013 H&M collaboration sold out in 45 minutes and crashed the retailer’s website. As of 2019, Isabel Marant operates 13 shops worldwide (Paris, Rome, New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Los Angeles, Beijing, Madrid, Beirut, London) with retailers in 35+ countries. Kim Bekker became Artistic Director in 2021. In 2021, Marant launched Isabel Marant Vintage, a secondhand platform accepting donations for vouchers. Worn by celebrities including Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, and Victoria Beckham, the brand maintains independence while emphasizing craftsmanship, textile preservation (via an endowment fund launched 2021), and designs for real life rather than red carpets.
