Values
Creating Tomorrow’s Heirlooms.
Maison Trigère was founded in 1942 with the mission of creating timelessly elegant designs of enduring quality and style. Fearlessly blending the classic with the innovative, the collection embodies a sophisticated and refined aesthetic in the French tradition which elevates and empowers every woman that wears Trigère. Trigère designs are conceived to be objects of beauty and desire which one invests in. The Trigère wardrobe is designed to outlast trends and seasons while having a minimal impact on the planet. This philosophy allows Trigère ensembles to be restyled and accented over time, as pieces from different collections and seasons can be paired effortlessly, thereby reducing waste. Our garments and accessories are made to be passed on like fine timepieces from one generation to the next, because heirlooms are priceless.
Our creations are made with the highest level of luxury craftsmanship and know-how that is unique to the Made in Italy tradition. Materials are locally sourced in the Lake Como region, from fabric mills that apply the most exacting standards in sustainability. The fabric mills and factories are located within a short radius, further reducing the carbon imprint associated with the transport of goods.
In keeping with the Maison’s tradition of female leadership and equality, Trigère is the first heritage fashion house to be founded upon the ideals of women's empowerment and equity.
Paris-born Pauline Trigère, legendary couturiére and trailblazing female entrepreneur, was the founder of Maison Trigère. Fleeing from the rise of the Nazis, she left Paris in 1936 with her husband (whose name she did not take), and two sons, and settled in New York. A member of New York’s intellectual and creative circles of continental exiles and émigrés that had fled fascism in Europe, Madame Trigère inspired awe with her mixture of "feminine beauty, masculine intelligence, and outstanding energy”.
In 1942, after working for several New York fashion houses, Trigère established Maison Trigère in order to produce her own designs. Her mastery of French styling and technique was an immediate success, attracting major buyers across both continents. As her renown grew, she assumed a position at the forefront of American Couture, dominating New York fashion for more than 50 years. In 1949 she received the Coty American Fashion Critics’ Award, an honour repeated in 1951 and in 1959; on the latter occasion she was inducted into the Coty Fashion Hall of Fame.
Trigère devised such innovations as the reversible coat, the mobile collar, the spiral jacket, and the embroidered sheer bodice. One of Trigère’s most lasting achievements however, came in 1961 during the height of the Civil Rights era, when she was the first major designer to ever send an African American model, Beverly Valdes, down the runway. Unafraid of antagonizing segregationist patrons, Trigère said: “we only lost one customer, in Birmingham, Ala. We didn’t miss her.”
In 1992 Trigère was the only designer to have remained in business for 50 years. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 1993. In 2001 Trigère was awarded the French Legion of Honour. Her influential oeuvre of striking and architectural designs, which were worn by the Duchess of Windsor, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Princess Grace, continue to seduce women everywhere.
Today we proudly uphold Pauline Trigère's legacy by collaborating with female-led manufacturing companies in Italy and reflecting a history of diversity and elegance in our company culture.
Sustainable fashion is made in a socially responsible supply chain. Maison Trigère aims to share our values and commitment for a more sustainable world with all those involved in our creative and manufacturing processes. Our mission is to run a responsible business that offers a company culture of diversity and respect for the work of every individual that contributes to the creation of sustainable Trigère products and collections.
About Made to Order
Each Trigère product is lovingly made to order especially for you with the celebrated, unparalleled quality of Italian craftsmanship. Our Made-to-Order tradition promotes slow fashion, quality, and the love for exquisitely made pieces that will become heirlooms.
Trigère Made-to-Order is the most responsible, sustainable way of producing garments. It means there is zero waste and the environmental impact is minimal. This is the height of discrete luxury and exclusivity.
The current lead-time for each order is 6 - 9 weeks. Thank you for your patience.
About Upcycling
Each Trigère collection includes a portion of meticulously selected archival and dead-stock fabrics sourced from luxury fabric mills in Italy’s Lake Como region, which we then upcycle into current collections; helping to decrease overproduction, preserve resources and reduce waste.
We have partnered with family-owned, ecologically compliant factories in Italy for development and production in order to guarantee the highest quality standards, promote a local supply chain and reduce environmental impact. In addition to superior craftsmanship, our factories are ethically responsible and meet the required global standards to ensure a safe, clean and respectful working environment.
Located in Venice, our primary manufacturing partner is an accredited SA8000 facility, an auditable certification standard that encourages organizations to develop, maintain, and apply socially acceptable practices in the workplace.
About SA8000
The SA8000 Standard is the world’s leading social certification program. It provides a holistic framework allowing organizations of all types, in any industry, and in any country to demonstrate their dedication to the fair treatment of workers. Created by SAI in 1997 as the first credible social certification, it has led the industry for over 20 years. It was developed in 1989 by Social Accountability International, formerly the Council on Economic Priorities, by an advisory board consisting of trade unions, NGOs, civil society organizations and companies. The SA8000's criteria were developed from various industry and corporate codes to create a common standard for social welfare compliance. https://sa-intl.
