Fernando Sanchez
Encyclopedia
Fernando Sánchez was a Spanish fashion designer. He was known for his provocative lingerie collections, which, though designed for elegant boudoirs, were often worn in public. Sanchez was awarded several Coty
fashion awards, as well as a Council of Fashion Designers of America
Award in 1981.
Sanchez was born into a wealthy family in Antwerp, Belgium
. His father died when he was very young. When Sanchez was in his teens, he would go with his mother to Paris to see Jacques Fath
's designs. Later, he sent a portfolio to Fath, who recommended him to the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, a fashion school in Paris. There, he ended up a classmate of Yves Saint Laurent. While St. Laurent would later revolutionize how women dressed during the day, Sanchez would revolutionize how women dressed at night.
In 1960, inspired by the movie West Side Story
, he moved to New York City
fifteen days after watching it. Sanchez started his own company in 1974, where he introduced techniques normally used in dress
construction to slip
s and caftans, making underwear resemble outerwear. He did not deem his work to be merely lingerie, and it was not treated as such by the fashion world. His fashion shows were as highly attended as those of more conventional designers. His work foreshadowed the mainstream acceptance of lingerie-like clothing in the 1990s.
Sanchez later worked for Nina Ricci
, Christian Dior
(where St. Laurent hired him to design lingerie), the New York lingerie company Warner's, and Yalla
Inc.
He died on 28 June 2006 from cardiac arrest
arising from complications of leishmaniasis
, a disease transmitted by sand fly bites.
Coty
Coty may refer to:*François Coty , perfume maker and founder of Solidarité Française and Coty, Inc.*René Coty , President of France*Coty, Inc., a beauty products manufacturer*Coty Award...
fashion awards, as well as a Council of Fashion Designers of America
Council of Fashion Designers of America
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association of over 350 of America’s foremost fashion and accessory designers. As of 2009, Diane von Fürstenberg is the group's President and Steven Kolb is the Executive Director...
Award in 1981.
Sanchez was born into a wealthy family in Antwerp, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. His father died when he was very young. When Sanchez was in his teens, he would go with his mother to Paris to see Jacques Fath
Jacques Fath
Jacques Fath was a French fashion designer who was considered one of the three dominant influences on postwar haute couture, the others being Christian Dior and Pierre Balmain.-Career:The son of André Fath, an Alsatian-Flemish insurance agent, Fath came from a creative family...
's designs. Later, he sent a portfolio to Fath, who recommended him to the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, a fashion school in Paris. There, he ended up a classmate of Yves Saint Laurent. While St. Laurent would later revolutionize how women dressed during the day, Sanchez would revolutionize how women dressed at night.
In 1960, inspired by the movie West Side Story
West Side Story (film)
West Side Story is a 1961 musical film directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. The film is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was adapted from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It stars Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno,...
, he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
fifteen days after watching it. Sanchez started his own company in 1974, where he introduced techniques normally used in dress
Dress
A dress is a garment consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice or with a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece garment.Dress may also refer to:*Clothing in general*Costume, fancy dress...
construction to slip
Slip
- In science and technology :* Slip , an aqueous suspension of minerals, and frequently deflocculant.* Slip , a positional displacement in a sequence of transmitted symbols...
s and caftans, making underwear resemble outerwear. He did not deem his work to be merely lingerie, and it was not treated as such by the fashion world. His fashion shows were as highly attended as those of more conventional designers. His work foreshadowed the mainstream acceptance of lingerie-like clothing in the 1990s.
Sanchez later worked for Nina Ricci
Nina Ricci (brand)
Nina Ricci is a fashion house founded by Maria "Nina" Ricci and her son Robert in Paris in 1932, and owned by the Spanish beauty and fashion group Puig since 1998. Nina Ricci designed gowns while Robert managed the business and finances. She worked with the fabrics directly on the mannequin to...
, Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
(where St. Laurent hired him to design lingerie), the New York lingerie company Warner's, and Yalla
Yalla
Yalla is a folk rock band from Uzbekistan. They appeared in 1970 and in the 1970s-1980s, were popular all over the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries. The most prominent song of Yalla was Uchquduq - tri kolodtsa, and it was once the most popular hit in USSR in 1980s...
Inc.
He died on 28 June 2006 from cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
arising from complications of leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasites that belong to the genus Leishmania and is transmitted by the bite of certain species of sand fly...
, a disease transmitted by sand fly bites.