TIME’s 100 Most Influential People Includes Lagerfeld, Murakami and Roitfeld
Among the 100 people named by TIME Magazine as the “The World’s Most Influential People” in 2008, three have had considerable influence in the fashion industry. Namely, Karl Lagerfeld, Carine Roitfeld and Takashi Murakami. Each honoree had other influential (and former TIME 100 honoree, in the case of Marc Jacobs) people write about them.
Karl Lagerfeld has pushed the boundaries of what is possible, reinventing classic Chanel pieces without compromising the integrity of Coco Chanel’s original designs….Before Karl, we all looked to couture for inspiration and direction. Now, through his work, fashion originates from the street, the media—anywhere. This has resulted in exciting collections that are provocative and sensual. His unrelenting experimentation in fashion, art and photography offers us endless possibilities yet is always grounded and relevant.
Takashi Murakami by Marc Jacobs:
When I first saw Takashi Murakami’s work, I smiled and wondered, Where did this explosion come from? Who was responsible for this collision of psychedelia, manga and, well, art? Then I thought, I would love it if the mind that imagined this dizzying world of jellyfish eyes, singing moss, magic mushrooms and morphing creatures would be willing to have a go at the iconic Louis Vuitton monogram. Our collaboration has produced a lot of works and has been a huge influence and inspiration to many. It has been and continues to be a monumental marriage of art and commerce. The ultimate crossover—one for both the fashion and art history books.
Carine Roitfeld by Hedi Slimane:
By choosing influence over power, she has an effortless credibility. Her definition of fashion is clearly hedonistic, embracing fashion’s immediacy but with a broad cultural vision that puts everything in perspective. She has always been fully committed to fashion and also gracious to all. She plays by her own refreshing rules, not by the kindergarten politics that often governs the business.
