Jil Sander

Milan, Italy

After graduating in 1963 from a textile-engineering school in Krefeld, Germany, Jil Sander worked as a fashion editor before opening a luxury clothing boutique in Hamburg at the age of 24.

Launched in 1968 by Jil Sander, the eponymous fashion house presented its first women’s collection in 1973. With her timelessly elegant and minimalist aesthetic, Jil Sander revolutionized women’s ready-to-wear in the 1980s, offering refined, expertly tailored garments in a neutral color palette as an antidote to the exceedingly embellished looks of the era. “For me, it was all about form, function and proportion. I never just wanted to decorate,” Sander said.

Jil Sander has been heralded as the “queen of lean,” producing collection after collection of sophisticated, highly considered garments that eschew excess. Today the brand is helmed by Lucie and Luke Meier, a husband-wife duo and former lead designers for Dior and Supreme. Their fresh perspective on the house’s 50-year-oeuvre continues a legacy of unconditional dedication to innovative materials and exceptional craftsmanship.