Diane von Fürstenberg
Diane von Fürstenberg (born Diane Simone Michele Halfin; 31 December 1946)[2] is a Belgian fashion designer best known for her wrap dress.[3][4][5][6] She initially rose to prominence in 1969 when she married into the German princely House of Fürstenberg, as the wife of Prince Egon von Fürstenberg. Following their separation in 1972 and divorce in 1983, she has continued to use his family name.
"DVF" redirects here. For other uses, see DVF (disambiguation).
Diane von Fürstenberg
Fashion designer
Her fashion company, Diane von Furstenberg (DvF),[7] is available in over 70 countries and 45 free-standing shops worldwide,[8] with the company's headquarters and flagship boutique located in Manhattan's Meatpacking District.[9]
She is the past chairwoman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a position she held from 2006 to 2019;[4] in 2014 was listed as the 68th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes;[10] and in 2015 was included in the Time 100, as an icon, by Time magazine.[11] In 2016, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the New School.[12] In 2019, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.[13]
Early years[edit]
Fürstenberg was born Diane Simone Michele Halfin in Brussels, Belgium, to Jewish parents.[14] Her father, Bessarabian-born Leon (Lipa) Halfin, migrated to Belgium in 1929 from Chişinău, Kingdom of Romania (now Moldova) and later sought refuge from the Nazis in Switzerland.[15][1] Her mother was Greek-born Liliane Nahmias, from Thessaloniki, a Holocaust survivor, who was initially captured by the Nazis while she was a member of the Resistance during World War II.[16][17][1] Nahmias was first taken to Auschwitz, then transferred to Ravensbrück, where she was liberated 18 months before Fürstenburg's birth. Weighing only 49 pounds, her mother was told by doctors that she should not have children, that she could die in childbirth, and that her baby would not be normal.[18] Fürstenberg has spoken broadly about her mother's influence in her life, crediting her with teaching her that "fear is not an option."[19]
Fürstenberg attended a boarding school in Oxfordshire.[20] She studied at Madrid University before transferring to the University of Geneva to study economics.[21] She then moved to Paris and worked as an assistant to fashion photographer's agent Albert Koski.[4] She left Paris for Italy to apprentice with the textile manufacturer Angelo Ferretti in his factory, where she learned about cut, color and fabric.[4] It was here that she designed and produced her first silk jersey dresses.
Philanthropy[edit]
Fürstenberg is a director of the Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation, which provides support to nonprofit organizations in the areas of community building, education, human rights, arts, health and the environment.[46] In 2010, the foundation created The DVF Awards, presented annually to four women who display leadership, strength and courage in their commitment to women's causes.[47] In 2011, the foundation made a $20 million commitment to the High Line.[48]
In 2006, she was elected President of The Council of Fashion Designers of America, (CFDA), after winning the Andre Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
Fürstenberg sits on the board of Vital Voices, a women's leadership organization,[49] and served as one of the project chairs for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's review of the future of NYC's Fashion industry, prepared by New York City Economic Development Corporation.[50]
In 2016, Fürstenberg designed shirts for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.[51][52]
In 2019, Fürstenberg launched the #InCharge podcast, exclusively on Spotify, with the goal of empowerment for women. Podcast guests were Kris Jenner, Elaine Welteroth, Karlie Kloss, Priyanka Chopra Martine Rothblatt, Teo Wan Lin,[53] among others.[54]
In popular culture[edit]
In 2014, Ovation TV featured The Fashion Fund, a documentary about the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund competition. Fürstenberg starred alongside Anna Wintour in the program.[55]
In November 2014, the E! network started airing the first season of reality show House of DVF. Contestants on the show performed various tasks and challenges in the hopes of becoming a global brand ambassador for Fürstenberg.[56][57] In September 2015, it returned for a second (final) season.[58]