BOOKS
Jil Sander – Eine Annäherung

The beginnings of Jil Sander

The book “Jil Sander-Eine Annäherung” by Martina Wiesner begins with a detailed overview of the designer’s early years and her first steps in the fashion industry. In the 1970s, Sander founded her own label, which quickly became known for its minimalist and clear designs. Her breakthrough came when she began using high-quality fabrics from Italy and producing her collections in small quantities. This initial phase was a time of experimentation and striving to turn her unique vision into reality. Wiesner vividly describes how Sander, with hard work and unshakeable self-confidence, conquered her place in the male-dominated fashion world.

Success with fragrances and expansion

In the 1980s, Jil Sander expanded her portfolio and launched her first fragrances, which quickly became known worldwide. This phase of the book describes how Sander further consolidated her brand and established herself on the international markets. Her perfumes, such as the iconic “Jil Sander Sun”, became bestsellers and helped to cement her brand’s image as synonymous with luxury and elegance. At the same time, she opened new boutiques, including one in Frankfurt, which symbolized her expansion in Germany. Wiesner emphasizes how Sander managed to continuously develop her brand despite growing competition. The clear and modern logo design by Peter Schmidt helped her to create a contemporary and unmistakable image that perfectly reflected the minimalism of her collections.

An icon of minimalism

The chapter on the 1990s describes Sander’s rise to fashion icon status. Alongside Karl Lagerfeld and Wolfgang Joop, she was one of the few German designers to achieve international recognition and her designs were considered groundbreaking for modern women. The book also sheds light on the challenges of this period, in particular the sale of a large part of her company to Prada and the resulting creative differences with Patrizio Bertelli, which led to her temporary withdrawal. Despite these setbacks, Sander’s influence remained undiminished and she made a triumphant return. Wiesner emphasizes how Sander managed to maintain her artistic integrity despite all adversity.

Influence and legacy

Martina Wiesner concludes the book with a reflection on Jil Sander’s legacy and her lasting influence on the fashion world. Wiesner praises Sander’s timeless elegance and clean lines, but also notes that her austere minimalism is sometimes perceived as cool and unapproachable. Overall, Sander is celebrated as a pioneer whose work has had a lasting influence on the fashion industry. Her contribution to modern fashion and her striving for perfection have made her a true fashion legend. In her fact-rich and fluently written “approach”, Wiesner succeeds, even without the cooperation of Jil Sander, in tracing the public image of a designer who, despite all adversity, always looked to the future and revolutionized the fashion world.

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Further information

Further information on the book “Jil Sander – Eine Annäherung” (DE) (Advertising) can be found on the HarperCollins Verlag website.

Compliance

The book was kindly made available to us by the publisher. The presentation and rating of HYPERMADE remains independent of this and is based solely on the content of the book.