Franck Sorbier Fashion Designer Profile

Learn about the life, success and style of French fashion designer Franck Sorbier.

Franck Sorbier Fashion Designer Profile With his bold theatrical fashion shows, French designer Franck Sorbier has become one of the Elise in the haute couture scene. He was noticed at presenting his first collection in 1987, and his passion for sewing, tact styles and color has since put the art tricks back into haute couture with his fantastic exhibitions and creative designs. By the mid 1990’s, he was given the opportunity to share his winter collection at the Caressel Deluv by Jewelry and Watch Manufacture Cartier. And also become a member of the French Federation of Couture and Ready-To-Wear, which is in charge of choosing dates and locations for the French Fashion Weeks. It was around this time that he also showed his fuss couture collections. His 2004, 2005 Ocean Winter Haute Couture Collection and Paris reflect the grace and elegance, where femininity appeared in this jackets, waistcoats, trousers, skirts and coats. As one Paris’s new top haute couture designers, he dedicated his 2005’s Spring Summer Haute Couture collection to African jazz musician Manu Dibango. He made full use of his ornamental style and break away from the idea of the traditional runway with models dancing around park cars and to the theme of an eclectic African jazz underscore, creating a party atmosphere, and showing off new styles of clothing. The collection demonstrated Sorbier’s flare for femininity and his rich imagination by incorporating needle work, patch work, prints and embroidery and vivid colors set against black and white. In 2006, he presented his show inspired by plants and flowers that featured elegant dresses adorned with fake flowers, layered with thorns like fringing all in leaf printed graphics. Colors were evocative of nature too with browns and greens on some outfits, bright reds on others. His inspirations are boundless, dazzling guests with burlesque inspired themes at well- known circus venues in Paris. While models emerge beneath the big top in heavily structured dresses knit to the waist and loose a long flowing gowns in decade of velvet and lace with exquisite beading. It’s almost normal to expect something out of the ordinary from Sorbier, like a ballerina with a tutu on roller skates rolling down the runway at ground level, indicating a lost childhood. A childhood past and all the memories and fantasies that escaped with it, or seeing models up in boxers posing as manikins. A fitting way to describe this collection as quoted by Sorbier was Alice in Wonderland. His classic couture, inspired by Mani’s Picnic saw this catwalk show take part in three scenes. The first, a summer scene in the park with real trees and models picnicking in the center, while the second took on more of a tribal look with huge Afro head models and animal print in jungle colored strapless dresses and full-skirted or plain halter neck, all influenced by a famous boating expedition. The third section of outfits was a flash of bright colored dresses in bold graphic prints with a finale showing the traditional but slightly modified wedding dress in white lace with a mini tutu style skirt and a lace veil. And looking on from the audience was Sorbier’s muse French actress Julie Depardieu. Mid 2008, he added a new twist to the traditional medium of haute couture by launching his collection online. Instead of sending models wearing his designs down at catwalk, Sorbier altered to create of virtual collection, which took the form of the 3D reworking of his 25 sketches based on 25 dynamic and innovative women that comprised his autumn winter 2008 and 2009 collection. He is a well known for his workmanship, love of luxurious fabrics and clean cut lines. And he has a reputation for injecting humor in his collection while simultaneously upholding notions of romance and femininity. Known for his refined details and quest for perfection, Franck Sorbier has said that haute couture is his true love and passion.