Grethe Glad

Margrethe (Grethe) Glad née Axelholm (1891–1990) was a Danish socialite, fashion designer and educator. In 1931, she established a fashion and design school in Copenhagen, originally known as Margrethe-Skolen but now renamed the Scandinavian Academy of Fashion Design. During and after the Second World War she became active in charity work both in Denmark and France. She continued to fund charities by selling dolls dressed in historical costumes to museums in the United States and Europe. From 1977, for several years she headed the family firm .

Early life and family Born in Copenhagen on 5 January 1891, Margrethe Axelholm was the daughter of the successful businessman Theodor Axelholm (1854–1924) and Julie Antoinette Elisabeth Nielsen (1867–1914). She was raised with her five siblings in an upper-class home, first in the city's Frederiksberg district, later in central Copenhagen. Her father, who owned an exclusive printing firm, was a member of the city's high society.

While she had no formal education, Grethe Axelholm learnt foreign languages and took piano lessons. After marrying Harald Johannes Danjelsen in 1913, she spent a period in Switzerland before returning to Copenhagen where her husband opened a dental practice on Bredgade. On his death from the Spanish flu in December 1916, Grethe was left to bring up their two children, Carl Christian (1913) and Inger (1916). She moved to Rosenvængets Allé in the Østerbro district where she began to give lessons in embroidery and filet work, developing collaboration with the crafts department at the department store Magasin du Nord. she became one of Denmark's most prominent women, not only because of her good looks and expensive attire but thanks to her active social life, theatre visits and business interests. In addition to Store Mariendal, a fine residence in Hellerup, the couple Rågegården, a seaside home in Rågeleje. Grethe earned even more attention when her husband was appointed Austria's consul general in 1921. It soon became known for the balls held in the exclusive Hotel d'Angleterre where the ladies appeared in the gowns they had created. During and after the Second World War she became active in charity work both in Denmark and France. She continued to fund charities by selling dolls dressed in historical costumes to museums in the United States and Europe. Following her husband's death in 1977, for several years she headed the family firm L.C. Glad & Co.

Aged 99, Grethe Glad died on 18 December 1990 in Copenhagen.