J. Mendel, a fifth-generation French atelier, has evolved into a global luxury fashion house under the auspices of creative director Gilles Mendel. Founded in St. Petersburg in the 1870s as furriers to the Russian aristocracy, the house of J. Mendel relocated to Paris’s famed rue Saint-Honoré following the Russian Revolution. Gilles Mendel took the helm as designer and CEO in 1981, having apprenticed in his family’s Paris atelier under his father, Jacques. Committed to taking his ancestors’ legacy of exceptional quality, savoir faire and uncompromising luxury to a broader stage, Gilles opened his first J. Mendel Boutique at Elizabeth Arden’s Fifth Avenue Salon in New York City. Quickly attracting a devoted clientele, he relocated his collections to a free-standing J. Mendel boutique at 723 Madison Avenue, an uptown landmark since it opened its doors in 1985. In October, 2013, the company expanded to a larger flagship boutique located at 787 Madison Avenue. Known for combining the highest quality materials and impeccable craftsmanship with a modern, award-winning design sensibility, Gilles Mendel evolved the company from a luxury fur atelier to a fully-fledged fashion house with the launch of ready-to-wear in 2002. Setting J. Mendel apart from other U.S. based brands, the company maintains two ateliers in the heart of New York City, where the fur, ready-to-wear, bridal and couture creations are produced. More recently, Gilles Mendel introduced J. Mendel accessories, handbags, and home furnishings. In recognition of his achievements in women’s fashion, Mendel was inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2003, and received the prestigious Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt National Design Award in 2011. Gilles Mendel’s signature luxe-femininity and effortless elegance has made the house of J. Mendel a red-carpet favorite among international royalty and Hollywood stars alike. His collections are carried at the finest stores across the globe.