John Warden

Details

Inductee: John Warden

Year inducted: 2012

About:

John Warden was born in 1939 and raised in Niagara Falls, Canada. John began sewing when he was just ten years old. His evident talent won him two scholarships. He attended Parsons School of Design in New York and graduated with top honours in 1963.

After graduating, John moved to Montreal to begin his career as the designer for a well known clothing manufacturer. Soon after, he launched his first collection and it was very well received. His unique style combined the colours white, black and cream with modern and timeless lines. His second collection brought him great recognition and soon reached the fashion elite across Canada.

The first John Warden Boutique was opened in 1966 where his clientele included Margaret Trudeau, Ivana Trump, Mariette Levesque and many other celebrities. He created a pilot collection for Le Chateau. His collections ranged from men's, woman’s and children's clothing. From 1968 to 1980, John worked in association with Canadian manufacturers and his clothes were distributed all over the world. In 1967, he designed the uniforms for Expo 67. In 1976, John along with other designers created the uniform for the Olympic Games in Montreal.

Throughout his career John won several awards; in 1964 the Canadian Cotton Council award, in 1978 Designer of the World which he shared with Yves Saint Laurent, and in 1983 the Canadian Designer of the Year. The same year he was honored by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Queen Elizabeth II and received the Fashion Award for Achievement.

He lost his battle with cancer on June 29, 2007 in Montreal, Quebec surrounded by his family. John will be remembered as a Canadian fashion icon.