J. Mendel: All In The Family
Written by Jaya // January 15, 2012 // Fashion Category // No comments
Many families around the world own a business in which each relative shares a responsibility. Most of them, though, do not operate luxury fashion lines such as Gilles Mendel’s brand J. Mendel. According to New York Magazine, J Mendel has been a part of their family since 1870 when Joseph Breitman, a furrier for Russia’s royal family, founded the brand. With its celebrity clientele, extensive press and lavish fashion shows, J. Mendel will probably stay within the family for years to come. According to the J. Mendel website, Gilles Mendel is both lead designer and heir to the company. Though the brand is best known for their extensive fur collections, Gilles has demonstrated versatility with other materials such as woolen tweeds and silk chiffon.
Since his introduction to the company, J. Mendel has widened its materials to include many others, but fur remains the brand’s claim to fame. From raccoon to fox to mink, J Mendel uses any animal pelt possible for an exceptional product, and all of the house’s clothing is made for women. Even though there is no male catalogue, J. Mendel was lauded in Style.com for its transition to daywear and the layering of fabrics in its clothing.
This adulation by the fashion community for J. Mendel’s designs has been met with equal hostility by animal rights groups, namely PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The organization has staged many protests outside of the J Mendel boutique on Madison Avenue in New York City, and according to New York Magazine, the demonstrations reach a high during the annual Olympus Fashion Week.
It’s doubtful, though, that most PETA members parading through the streets in blood-soaked fur clothes could even afford J Mendel’s creations. On ShopStyle’s website most of the J. Mendel items are between $1,000 and $4,000, so these lines are only for the lavishly wealthy. A substantial portion of the clothes are also made from, obviously, fine animal furs.
J. Mendel clothes are also highly popular among female celebrities. The J. Mendel website shows photographs of actresses Megan Fox, Zoe Saldana, Kerry Washington, Mila Kunis, and Anne Hathaway dawning dresses made by J. Mendel at various red carpet events. Magazines such as Vogue and Marie Claire have also recently featured spreads and articles highlighting J. Mendel clothing.
J. Mendel’s popularity is at a new height, and under Gilles Mendel’s leadership there is no doubt that the business will continue expanding. With his guidance and sense of design J Mendel will remain as one of the leaders in fur and haute couture.
- Taylor Burns
