Jeanne Paquin

Jeanne Paquin (French pronunciation: [ʒan pakɛ̃]) (1869–1936) was a French fashion designer, known for her modern and innovative designs. She was the first major female couturier and one of the pioneers of the modern fashion business.^[1]

Jeanne Paquin
Madame Paquin
Born	Jeanne Marie Charlotte Beckers 1869 Saint-Denis, France
Died	1936 Paris, France
Occupation(s)	Couturière, fashion designer
Label	Maison Paquin (House of Paquin)
Spouse	Isidore Rene Jacob dit Paquin

Biography

Caricature of Jeanne Paquin by Sem, 1910

Jeanne Marie Charlotte Beckers was born in 1869, at the gates of Paris, at St. Denis.^[2]. Her father was a physician.^[1] Her mother was born on a farm in the Berry. Mother of five by two husbands-the first was a doctor and Mme Paquin's father-she brought up the children herself. Her family consisted of six, for to her own offspring was added a young cousin, adopted principally because there was no one else to adopt her.^[2][3]

Sent out to work as a young teenager, Jeanne trained as a dressmaker at Rouff (a Paris couture house established in 1884 and located on Boulevard Haussmann^[4][5]). She quickly rose through to ranks becoming première, in charge of the atelier.^[1]

In 1891, Jeanne Marie Charlotte Beckers married Isidore René Jacob, who was also known as Paquin. Isidore owned Paquin Lalanne et cie, a couture house which had grown out of a menswear shop in the 1840s. The couple renamed the company Paquin and set about building the business.^[1]

In 1900, Jeanne was instrumental in organizing the Universal Exhibition and she was elected president of the Fashion Section.^[6][7] Her designs were featured prominently at the Exhibition^[7] and Jeanne created a mannequin of herself for display.^[1]

Isidore Paquin died in 1907 at the age of 45, leaving Jeanne a widow at 38. Over 2,000 people attended Isidore's funeral. After Isidore's death, Jeanne dressed mostly in black and white.^[1]

Probably Jeanne would have undermined even her robust health, were it not for her mother, who watcheed over her, solicitous for her comfort and happiness, as if she were still a small child. Freshlooking, with blue eyes, the mother resided with her daughter, in her flat in the Rue de Presbourg, near the Arc de Triomphe, overlooking a pleasant garden.^[2]

During World War I, Jeanne served as president of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture.^[8] She was the first woman to serve as president of an employers syndicate in France.^[9]

Awards and honours

In 1913, Jeanne accepted France's prestigious Legion d’Honneur in recognition of her economic contributions to the country – the first woman designer to receive the honor.^[10]