Gianfranco Ferr? was born on August 15, 1944 in Legnano. He passed away on June 17, 2007 in Milan, Italy. He received a degree in architecture in 1969 from the Polytechnic Institute of Milan.

Ferre made his first steps in fashion as a designer of accessories and jewellery when in 1967 he started his work with Walter Albini. His name became popular in 1969 when works of his were published on the pages of the Italian Vogue. For a certain period of time after 1970 he worked as a designer in the jewellery industry for Elio Fiorucci and Karl Lagerfeld.

Gianfranco Ferr? company was established in 1978. The amount of 100,000 US dollars were invested in it. Four years later Gianfranco Ferr? launched his menswear collection and in 1986 was his haute couture debut.

From 1989 until 1996 he was an artistic director of Christian Dior fashion house for the haute couture fashion and the pr?t-a-porter lines. He had been creating collections of youth orientation since 1987 under the name of Ferr?jeans.

In 1991 he launched the ladies’ fragrance Ferr? by Ferr?. Nine years later Gianfranco Ferr? sold his fashion house but continued to work as its chief designer. Until his last day he continued to work for the Gianfranco Ferr? Black, Gianfranco Ferr? White and Gianfranco Ferr? Red lines offering the full range of clothes and accessories for men and women, including shoes, bags, fragrances, glasses, leather wear, scarves and ties. Another line of clothes and accessories is oriented to young customers, GF FERR?.

Photo: smh.com.au