JACQUES HEIM

(1899-1967) Jacques Heim was born into a furrier family and started out in the family business designing furs. In 1923 he took over the business, and within a few years had added a couture department. He was an innovator in using cuttings of furs as one would a fabric.

Heim's couture house was opened in the Avenue Matignon in Paris in 1930. He also made ready-to-wear, and in 1936 started a line for younger women, Heim Jeunes Filles.

In 1946 Heim started his own chain of sportwear boutiques. He was one of the early designers of the bikini, called the Atome, and he was known for his beachwear. In the same year Heim visited the United States in order to establish contracts with several US department stores for which he was to design collections. Another ready-to-wear line, Heim Actualité, was begun in 1950.

The House of Heim closed in 1969, two years after the designer's death.