Background
Montana, Claude was born in 1949 in Paris, WORLD0.
Montana, Claude was born in 1949 in Paris, WORLD0.
His company, The House of Montana, founded in 1979, went bankrupt in 1997. Later, he discovered leather and the complex techniques associated with it, eventually becoming a leading force in leather. His first fashion show took place in 1976.
He was an avid colorist and favored blue, red, metallic, and neutral tones, in luxurious materials such as cashmere, leather and silk.
He started his own company The House of Montana in 1979, and quickly became a darling of 1980s high fashion along with Thierry Mugler, who also favored aggressive shapes and strong colours. In 1981, Montana designed his first collection for men, called Montana Hommes, in which he focused on the color and material of each garment rather than trivial details.
Despite critical acclaim, Montana"s bold designs were financially disastrous for the house, created at a total estimated loss of $50 million, and he was ultimately replaced by Dominique Morlotti. In 1999, he designed an affordable line of clothing for women, Montana BLU. lieutenant was inspired by his favorite themes but modified to fit the style of sportswear and citywear.
Montana"s fashion shows excelled in styling as well as in presentation.
Because of their vibrations, modelling for Montana became prestigious and invitations to his shows the hottest tickets in town. With fashion"s return to harder lines in 2007 Montana has become an inspiration for many designers. Alexander McQueen praised and honored Montana many times in his collections.
Both designers shared a love for construction and high quality.
M. Wallis Franken, July 25, 1993.