ALEXANDER McQUEEN

Known for:
Alexander McQueen's collections are known for both the emotional power and raw energy of his shows, as well as the romantic but determinedly contemporary nature of his clothes.

Year started:   1994

Collections per year:   3: ss/fw/rst

Name of current designer:   Sarah Burton

ANN DEMEULEMEESTER

Known for:
Women with a strong sense of personal style, who don't pay much heed to passing trends, have been coming back for years to her brand of slouchy, layered, menswear-inspired modernity: T-shirt dresses, asymmetric vests, and leather outerwear (not to mention those stompin' black leather boots).

Year started:   1987

Collections per year:   4: women's fw/ss, men's fw/ss

Name of current designer:   Ann Demeulemeester

BALENCIAGA

Year started:   1918

Collections per year:   6: fw-RTW/rsrt/pf/ss-RTW, men's-SS/f

Name of current designer:   Alexander Wang

CHANEL

Year started:   1907

Collections per year:   6: ss-ctr/fw-ctr/rst/ss-RTW/fw-RTW/hs

Name of current designer:   Karl Lagerfeld

CHLOÉ

Year started:   1960

Collections per year:   4: ss/fw/rst/pf

Name of current designer:   Hannah MacGibbon

CHRISTIAN DIOR

Year started:   1947

Collections per year:
7: Fall-RTW/Fall-ctr/SS-RTW/SS-ctr, men's-Fall/men's-SS

Name of current designer: Raf Simons  

COMME DES GARÇONS

Year started:   1981

Collections per year:  4: women's-fw/ss, men's-fw/ss

Name of current designer:   Rei Kawakubo

GIVENCHY

Known for:
Understated chic, feminine but not flamboyant.

Year started:   1952

Collections per year:
8: ss-RTW/Fall/ctr/rst/pf, men's fw-RTW/Spring/ctr

Name of current designer:   Riccardo Tisci

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

Year started:   1976

Collections per year:  
8: ss-RTW/Fall/CTR/RST/PF, men's-fwRTW/Spring/CTR

Name of current designer:   Jean Paul Gaultier

JIL SANDER

Year started:   1973

Collections per year:   4: women's-fw/ss, men's-fw/ss

Name of current designer:   Raf Simons