Jules-François Crahay

Jules-François Crahay (1917–1988) was a Belgian fashion designer who worked for the houses of Nina Ricci (1952–1963) and Lanvin as head designer (1963–1983). He won the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award in 1962, and was the only three-time winner of the French fashion award the Dé d'or or Golden Thimble (1977, 1981, 1984).

Early life Crahay was born in Liège.

Career After the War, Crahay opened his own haute couture house in Paris in 1951, but it was unsuccessful.

Crahay moved to the more "select" Lanvin in 1964. She also described how his colours stood out among that season's "terribly washed-out" palette, praised his use of abstract, "unromantic" prints, and noted his inventive coatdresses. A 1977 collection combined references to Russia, Tibet and North Africa.

Later life and death Following his retirement Crahay divided his time between Saint-Raphaël and Monte Carlo, where he died of a heart attack in 1988.

Retrospective In February 2024 a nine-month exhibition of Crahay's work opened at the Fashion & Lace Museum, Brussels, under the title Jules François Crahay – Back in the Spotlight.