The House of Carven was founded in 1945 by Marie-Louise Carven, specializing in outfits for petite women like her. The brand was an instant hit with the French elite in post-war Paris.
Madame Carven's Signature Style
Throughout her long career, Madame Carven became known for numerous trademark fabrics, particularly youthful fabrics such as cotton gingham and broderie anglaise, but also exotic fabrics such as African waxcloth and Indonesian batik, which she brought back on her far-flung travels.
History of Carven
Madame Carven's famous 1946 fragrance, "Ma Griffe," is named after a summer dress made from her signature green-and-white striped fabric. Madame Carven retired in 1993, and in 2002, her oeuvre was celebrated with a major exhibition at the Musée Galliera.
Serge Ruffieux
In 2017, Serge Ruffieux was appointed Creative Director of Carven. He oversaw the brand's womenswear, accessories, and footwear lines. His first collection for the house was unveiled during the spring/summer 2018 season in Paris.
A New Era
Before joining Carven, Serge Ruffieux spent nearly ten years at Christian Dior, where he was co-artistic director between 2015 and 2016. With Serge Ruffieux at the helm, a new era has begun at Carven.