Claude Montana has died at the age of 76.
The French fashion designer’s death was confirmed by the French fashion industry’s umbrella organization, the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), on Friday evening. Montana caused a stir in the 1980s with his eccentric creations and became known as the ‘king of shoulder pads’, among other things.
Montana founded his brand in 1979 after he began presenting his own designs four years earlier. He soon became one of the fashion pioneers of the 80s, which also included the French designers Jean Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler. Montana’s concept emphasized women’s self-confident ‘power dressing’, which would ultimately characterize the entire decade.
In addition to his own brand, Montana worked for the French fashion house Lanvin, for which he designed the haute couture collections from 1990 to 1992. The works he created there have received several awards.
Despite his former importance, the designer gradually fell into oblivion. His fashion brand filed for bankruptcy in 1997. Although it was revived, it was resold twice within a short period of time. Montana last presented a collection in Paris in 2002, but then retreated from the spotlight.
“Claude Montana’s work embodies exceptional craftsmanship,” said Bruno Pavlovsky, FHCM President. “His bold creations have influenced an entire generation of designers. The signature style, a blend of sophistication and modernity, remains firmly anchored in the contemporary fashion imagination and testifies to its indelible influence on the industry and generations to come.”
This article originally appeared on FashionUnited.nl. Translated and edited by Heide Halama.