Designer and fragrance maker Hubert James Taffin de Givenchy was born in Beauvais, France in 1927. He was raised by his grandfather, a tapestry maker. He joined Jacques Fath in 1944, and worked with him while studying at the Ecole de Beaux Arts part time. In 1945, joined Robert Piguet and then Lucien Lelong. In 1952 he opened his own house at 8, rue Alfred de Vigny, near the Parc Monceau.

He retired from the fashion world in 1995. Today, Givenchy is one of the leading purveyors of contemporary luxury, and has been a subsidiary of LVMH Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton Group since 1987. Its business consists of fashion, fragrances and cosmetics.