Fashion
Chanel Faces Biggest Challenge Since the Loss of Its Founder
- Fashion house says Viard to lead creative work on collections
- Brothers who own Chanel are among France’s richest people
The passing of Karl Lagerfeld presents Chanel with its biggest creative challenge since the death of its iconic founder almost half a century ago.
Since 1983, Lagerfeld reigned over Chanel with indisputable authority, helping turn a storied haute-couture fashion house into a global megabrand with $9.6 billion in annual sales. His death, at the age of 85, has left long-time creative deputy Virginie Viard in charge of the collections.