A French designer recognized by her peers, Emmanuelle Khanh signed collections for several designers (including Dorothée Bis, Pierre d'Alby and Cacharel) before launching her eponymous label in 1969.
Emmanuelle Khanh in 1969
Against the idea of Haute Couture, she became part of the yé-yé designer movement with Michèle Rosier and Sonia Rykiel, who officially launched ready-to-wear fashion.
“Older houses create an idea of beauty that is artificial. It's for very rich people and you can't move in it...I want to create new classics for a new era”, says Emmanuelle Khanh.
Marisa Berenson in bikini Emmanuelle Khanh by André Carrara - 1969
She revolutionized the fashion of her time: through her shapes, which gave women an ease of movement they'd never found elsewhere, and through her signature materials such as cotton gauze and linen. These innovations, combined with knitwear and embroidery, defined a unique new wardrobe that met with immediate success.
David Bowie wearing Emmanuelle Khanh glasses - 1980
In 1971, she launched her first eyewear collection. With the help of the best workshops in Oyonnax, in the Jura region of France, she designed a range of strong, voluminous frames with clean lines. She gave this accessory its letters of nobility and made it a fashion statement.
