Jean Patou

Born in Paris in 1880, Jean Patou initially worked in his family's tanning and fur business before moving to the capital in 1910 with aspirations of becoming a couturier. He opened a small dressmaking salon, "Maison Parry," in 1912, quickly gaining traction when his entire 1914 collection was bought by a single American buyer. His burgeoning career was interrupted by World War I, where he served as a captain in the Zouaves. After reopening his couture house in 1919, Patou ma…