MADRID, Apr 26, 2009 / FW/ — A native of Cordoba, Elio Berhanyer arrived in Madrid at the age of 17. Self-taught and without any formal education in fashion, he embarked in the world of fashion design opening his own salon in 1960. At the age of 27, he began working in haute couture, and he is arguably one of the greatest representatives of Spanish fashion throughout the world.

Elio Berhanyer Fall 2009
Elio Berhanyer Fall 2009

In 1962, he showed his first spring-summer collection at the Spanish Embassy under the patronage of Their Excellencies the Marquises of Santa Cruz, garnering the prize for the best collection of the year.

From there on, there was no stopping Elio Berhanyer who became a Spanish fashion powerhouse as he visited the catwalks in all five continents showing his haute couture collections in the 1960s and 1970s and his prêt-a-porter which he began designing in 1969.

He has designed clothes for famous women from the arts and film worlds and from all walks of social and political life, including Ava Gardner, Cyd Charisse and the Countess of Romanones. His creations have been coveted by women from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Chile, Japan and Australia to name just a few.

He also designed uniforms for firms that include banks and the Spanish Armed Forces which was a personal commission of HM Juan Carlos I. In 1983 launched an umbrella line with his design and trademarks and created and designed a new leather goods line.

In 1990, he designed and created the new wardrobe for the staff at the Madrid Casino. In 1991, he was made a member and honorary founder of the Latin American Fashion Chamber in Miami. In 1999, he was named honorary member of the Circle of Fashion Writers. In 1994, he started unveiling his collections in Madrid

In 2002, the President of the Government of Spain, José María Aznar, appointed him curator of the national tribute to Pertegaz in the Reina Sofía Art Museum. He received the proposal of the Cabinet for the Gold Medal in Fine Arts from HM Juan Carlos I.

In 2008, the first Elio Berhanyer home line collection (Berhanyer Home) was presented at Sala Reina Bruja in Madrid.

www.elioberhanyer.com

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