The world famous fashion house is run by two women – mother and daughter. How do they manage to prioritize, respect boundaries, and respect each other’s positions? Carolina … and Carolina Herrera talk about the intricacies of the family business.
A white cotton blouse, a wedding dress, polka dot fabrics and, of course, fragrances… If the first three symbols of the Carolina Herrera fashion house are its founder, then the perfumery is entirely at the disposal of another Carolina Herrera, her daughter. And she likes to point out that these Carolina Herrera fragrances exist independently, out of touch with her mother’s work. “Fashion changes every season, and I want perfume to last for many years. Our first fragrance was 212 NYC, whose futuristic scent did not match the romantic elegance of the Carolina Herrera models. And despite such a contrast, it has been popular for 16 years!” – Herrera Jr. is proud. And she insists that she always chooses the concept of the future fragrance, perfumers, designers for the bottle… What is it – a protest of a “star child”, a desire for one’s own, and not parental glory? “I have always encouraged my daughter’s desire for self-realization,” Herrera Sr. objects. – She did not impose her opinion, did not suppress her creative impulses. When she wanted to create a perfume for us, I deliberately did not go into a single detail. They put a finished product on my table.
It was nothing like the classic Carolina Herrera fragrance that I created in 1987. But it was brilliant nonetheless. Since then, I get acquainted with new products only after the completion of the work. So the last fragrance, CH Sublime, was shown to me in finished form. This wise decision allows, according to both Carolyns, to maintain peace and harmony in their relationship. And this, the first one admits, is much more important for her than a career: “I opened my fashion house at the age of 40 – it’s more familiar for me to take care of my family than to hang around in the office. I basically leave work no later than five in the evening. And outside the office, we no longer talk about business – this is the key to normal relations. At the same time, Carolina Sr. does not hide the fact that she still uses only her own classic creation: “I love the combination of tuberose with jasmine.” Well, not only daughters have the right to independence in this family.