Gianfranco Ferré

Ferré was born on 15 August 1944 in Legnano, near Milan in Lombardy, in northern Italy, the first child of Luigi Ferré and Andrea Morosi. He attended the liceo scientifico of Legnano, and then, from 1963, studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan in central Milan, where he graduated in 1969.

Ferré began his fashion career in 1970 by designing accessories, then worked as a raincoat designer in 1972–74. He started his own company Baila in 1974, and launched his signature collection for women in 1978. His first men's collection appeared in 1982, followed in 1986 by his first couture collection in Rome.

Ferré became Stylistic Director of Christian Dior in Paris in 1989, when he was chosen by owner Bernard Arnault to replace Marc Bohan. In 1994, Ferré designed the Lady Dior handbag. In 1996, it was announced that Ferré would end his engagement with Dior with the Spring 1997 collection for the label.

Ferré appeared to be extremely critical of trends and fashion gimmicks. He dealt with his demanding schedule, being responsible for a French top fashion brand and his own Italian label, by commuting between Milan and Paris in his private plane. Ferré had a 460 m2 (5,000 sq ft) lakeside home on the western bank of Lake Maggiore, near Milan.