Georges Wichner, a number one trend govt instrumental in constructing U.S. companies for a number of prime European designer manufacturers, died Could 10 at dwelling in Miami together with his household at his aspect, after a bout with most cancers. He was 73.
Wichner was a extremely wanted specialist in operating U.S. subsidiaries for prime European trend homes together with Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent. As well as, for a few years he lectured on trend and advertising and marketing at Kent State College’s trend program in New York Metropolis, which he helped develop.
“He touched us in methods we are going to always remember,” stated his son David-Nicolas Wichner. “He liked the finer issues in life — design, fantastic meals, automobiles and tennis. I bear in mind he was at all times so busy touring for work, however in his later years, he discovered such pleasure spending extra time together with his household.” A 12 months in the past, when he retired, Georges Wichner moved from New York to be together with his household.
“I’m heartbroken now,” stated Nicole Fischelis, the previous Macy’s artistic director and forecaster, Saks Fifth Avenue trend director and Ferragamo senior vp of trend. “Georges was an incredible character, extraordinarily cultured, a cultured man with a fantastic spirit and lots of humor, and he possessed an incredible data of the historical past of trend. He was very good at connecting with folks. He was a robust businessman however on the similar time understood creativity and promoted it. He supported each single designer that he labored with.
“I’ve recognized Georges since I got here to this nation in 1991 to develop into the style director of Saks,” Fischelis added. “He was like a brother to me.”
Wichner was born and raised in France and served within the navy. In keeping with his biography listed on the Kent State College web site, a lot of Wichner’s schooling centered round finding out theater, the place early on he wished to construct a profession. He was additionally a philosophy pupil. Whereas finding out, to help himself he labored half time in a Paris luxurious boutique which led to a full time job, which in flip led to wholesale positions, and finally into operating retail operations for Charles Jourdan.
Subsequently, he joined Yves Saint Laurent, the place he opened and managed the designer’s retailer on the Champs-Élysées. Wichner labored for Saint Laurent for about 9 years and developed a community of YSL boutiques within the U.S. He additionally grew to become an American citizen.
After YSL, Wichner was named president and chief govt officer of Valentino USA Inc. in 1999. On the time, it was a brand new publish, signaling the style home’s intent to develop considerably in America. After Valentino, Wichner served as president of Thierry Mugler for seven years. “Thierry Mugler was essentially the most avant garde designer my father labored with,” his son stated.
It was additionally one among Wichner’s hardest assignments. Wichner as soon as instructed WWD he did no formal research within the U.S. to gauge client consciousness of the Mugler title. However informally, his impression was that individuals knew the designer’s perfume, Angel, greater than the style designer. “Angel, that’s straightforward to recollect,” he stated. “Thierry Mugler will not be such a simple title to recollect in a international language.”
Wichner additionally had stints as managing director of Revillon, the French furrier, in addition to at Leonard, the French home recognized for its colourful prints, and Vivienne Tam. Late in his profession he labored as a guide doing what he was extensively recognized for, serving to European corporations develop U.S enterprise.
In keeping with Kent State, he received concerned with the college a long time in the past when he met designer Shannon Rodgers, who was growing the designer assortment of the faculties’ museum, the Shannon Rodgers & Kent State College Museum, and was searching for Valentino clothes from him. One factor led to a different, and Wichner stated he was prepared to provide lectures to the scholars and likewise advise Rodgers on French couture homes. Wichner joined the college’s advisory board, when Kent State developed its New York Metropolis program and created a course on luxurious and advertising and marketing and the way they work together.
Along with his son David-Nicolas, Wichner is survived by his daughter in legislation, Pom; two grandchildren, Malineige and Mandarine; his brother, Alain, and his ex-wife Marie-Claire.
“One of many final issues my father stated to me was, ‘If we have been at sea, we might have marines,’” his son stated. “He was telling me he was so grateful that I helped maintain him robust whereas he was sick.”