Christian Audigier
Encyclopedia
Biography
Christian Audigier was raised by his mother in Southern France; coming from a modest family, he left school at the age of 14 to start working. He soon realized his passion for James Dean and the American dream; He eventually infiltrated into Saint-Tropez nightlife and became indefectible friends with Johnny Hallyday. Keys-in-hand, Christian Audigier organizes parties for the latter in his famous Villa La Lorada.In 2000, Christian Audigier started a new life in Los Angeles with $500 in his pocket. Once in Hollywood, he met several celebrities (Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba
Jessica Marie Alba is an American television and film actress. She began her television and movie appearances at age 13 in Camp Nowhere and The Secret World of Alex Mack . Alba rose to prominence as the lead actress in the television series Dark Angel...
, Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton
Paris Whitney Hilton is an American businesswoman, heiress, and socialite. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton . Hilton is known for her controversial participation in a sex tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood...
, Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus
Miley Ray Cyrus is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana....
, Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
, Chris Brown, Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
, Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, among others) and built up a renowned clientèle. He popped up with the Celebrity Wear concept, a concept which would make him famous later. He paid paparazzi to photograph stars like Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
or Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
walking out of his shop on Melrose Avenue wearing his t-shirts and caps… the advertising paid off.
He is also known for contributing to the design of major brands such as Eagle Outfitters, Chipie, Lee, Levi's, Liberto, Kookai and Naf Naf ; in 2004, Audigier left Von Dutch, where one of his greatest achievements was to put the brand back in fashion, to star his own business: Don Ed Hardy and Smet, in collaboration with Johnny Hallyday. Both brands were inspired by White Trash and Rock'n'Roll. Among his projects, Audigier also created his own brand and teamed up with a wine cooperative in France called Montpeyroux.
Audigier is known for his receptions attended by the jet set at his place in Los Angeles. He has four children: Rocco, Mick Jagger, Dylan, and Crystal Vito. Audigier launched the brand Crystal Rock inspired by his daughter Crystal. He also takes full advantage of this extraordinary success to spend more time with his children and his girlfriend, the Brazilian model Nathalie Sorensen.
In 2009, Audigier published his autobiography: My American Dream: From the cities of Avignon, to the City of Angels. The same year, his companies produced a turnover of 264 million. In October 2009, Audigier said he would be interested in investing in shares of Club Med, around 1 up to 3%. In 2011, he sold the brand Ed Hardy to Iconix Brand Group Inc. for $ 62 million.
Brands
- Christian Audigier
- Ed Hardy
- SmetSmetSmet is a surname, and may refer to:* Eugenia Smet , founder of the Society of Helpers of the Holy Souls* Henrich Smet , Court physician and humanist* Kathleen Smet , Belgian triathlete...
- Crystal Rock
- Paco Chicano
- C-Bar-A
- Rock Fabulous
- CA Motoring
- VIF Speedshop
- Garage Parts
- FiorucciFiorucciFiorucci is an Italian fashion label founded by Elio Fiorucci in 1967. The first shop exposed Milan to the styles of Swinging London and American classics such as the T-shirt and jeans. By the late 1970s and early 1980s this would be reversed, and the New York store would become famous for the...
- Von DutchVon DutchVon Dutch is an American multinational clothing company named after artist Kenny Howard.After Howard's death in 1992, his daughters sold the Von Dutch name to Michael Cassel and Robert Vaughn...