Mori Hanae

Mori was born in Shimane Prefecture in 1926. Graduating from Tokyo Woman’s University with a degree in Japanese Literature, she began learning dressmaking in 1951 and immediately built her own studio in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward. She designed costumes for famous movie directors like Akira Kurosawa and made clothes for the Japanese Princess Masako.

After her chance with meeting with legendary Coco Channel, Mori Hanae decided to shift to haute couture. She first showcased her collections, dubbed as “East Meets West”, to a western audience in New York in 1965. She followed this by opening her own shop, also in New York in 1970. Towards this decade, the name Mori Hanae expanded through Paris, London, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland.

In the late 70’s she released a collection using her already well-known butterfly motif and became known as “Madame Butterfly”. That same year, Mori Hanae became the first Asian member of the Paris Haute Couture association.
Her creations link both luxury and beauty of the cultures of the East and West.

Many of her work display Japanese consciousness even as they are crafted to fit a Western mold.

She broke the constraints of being a traditional mother and wife to create a fashion empire. Her famous clientele include former Princess Grace, Nancy Reagan, and Sophia Loren.

Awards and Recognition:

• Neiman-Marcus Award (1973)
• Chevalier in the National Order of the "Legion dÕHonneur" (1989)
• Cultural merit "Bunka Koro Sha" (1989)
• Officer in the Order of the "Legion dÕHonneur" (2002)