Francine "Franc'" Pairon (2 February 1949 – 12 February 2023) was a Belgian fashion designer and teacher.[1] She was the founder of La Cambre-Mode(s) at La Cambre and of the "Master Fashion and Accessory Design" course at the Institut Français de la Mode.[2]

Franc' Pairon
Born
Francine Pairon

(1949-02-02)2 February 1949
Died12 February 2023(2023-02-12) (aged 74)
Ixelles, Belgium
NationalityBelgian
EducationCollege of Advertising and Design [fr]
Occupation(s)Fashion designer
Teacher

Biography

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Born on 2 February 1949, Pairon earned a degree in art history at the Musée d’art ancien in Brussels and became an interior designer in 1981 following her training at the College of Advertising and Design [fr].[3] She was self-taught in fashion and created her first clothing collection in 1978, followed by numerous exhibitions in various galleries in the 1980s.[4] She then taught fashion at the École Supérieure des Arts de Mons.[5]

In 1986, Pairon created the "styling and fashion" workshop at La Cambre in collaboration with Joseph Noiret, which she directed until June 1999.[6] There, she notably trained Olivier Theyskens.[7][8] In 1999, she founded the "Fashion Design Department" and the "Master Fashion and Accessory Design" at the Institut Français de la Mode, where she taught until 2012.[9]

In 2004 and 2005, Pairon participated in teaching programs in Thailand and Vietnam.[10] She was also "External Assessor" British schools such as Central Saint Martins.[11] She was made a Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres on 24 May 2012 in a ceremony at the Institut Français de la Mode.[12] The award was given to her by Didier Grumbach [fr], then president of the Fédération française de la couture, on behalf of the Minister of Culture. In 2015, she curated an exhibition dedicated to Luc Van Malderen [fr], her mentor at La Cambre.[13] She continued to lead seminars, courses, and creative workshops until 2022.[14][15]

Franc' Pairon died of cancer in Ixelles on 12 February 2023, at the age of 74.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Nesvabda, Lydie (4 December 2020). "Le combat de la mode, c'est d'être prise au sérieux". Médor (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  2. ^ Clauss, Elisabeth (16 February 2018). "La Cambre a 30 ans : 30 choses que vous ne saviez pas". Elle Belgique (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Au revoir Franc'Pairon". La Cambre (in French).
  4. ^ "L'art textile contemporain en Belgique francophone (1980-2020) : Les cas de la galerie Les Drapiers (Liège) et du musée TAMAT (Tournai)". Master Thesis Online (in French).
  5. ^ "Francine Pairon : la mode, un secteur en manque de chef d'orchestre". WBDM (in French). 28 June 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  6. ^ Moyson, Anne-Françoise (14 February 2023). "Décès de Franc'Pairon: hommage à la fondatrice de La Cambre Mode(s)". Weekend (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  7. ^ Bézard, Catherine (5 September 2016). "Cédric Charlier : sacré « bonhomme mode »". Marie France (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  8. ^ van Rokeghem, Suzanne; Aubenas, Jacqueline; Vercheval-Vervoort, Jeanne (2006). Des femmes dans l'histoire en Belgique, depuis 1830 (in French). Luc Pire Editions. ISBN 978-2-87415-523-9.
  9. ^ "Tribute to Francine Pairon (02/02/1949-12/02/2023)". Institut Français de la Mode (in French). 13 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Jeunes Vieux Cons (épisode 3) – Francine Pairon : "L'enseignement vous tient vivant"". RTBF (in French). 29 May 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  11. ^ Pairon, Francine (8 April 2008). "Secrets de fabrique de créateurs talentueux". École de Paris du management (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  12. ^ Pernet, Diane (24 May 2012). "Franc' Pairon receives the medal Chevalier des A". A Shaded View on Fashion. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  13. ^ Noiret, Mélanie (11 March 2015). "Les actes de Luc Van Malderen". L'Echo (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Franc' Pairon". Out of the box (in French). 18 November 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Franc Pairon, une pédagogue surdouée". Out of the box (in French). 21 June 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  16. ^ Vaucelle, Aurore (13 February 2023). "Décès de Franc' Pairon, la fondatrice de La Cambre Mode[s] qui aura marqué l'histoire de la Belgique". La Libre Belgique (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2023.