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Her birth
Her original name is Gabrielle Chanel, and her pseudonym is Coco Chanel. She was born in the House of Charity in Samur, France. Her parents were called Albert Chanel and Jeanne Devolle. -
Her mother's death and the abandonment of his dad
Her mother Jeanne died when Coco had 12 years. And her dad took Coco and her sisters to the Roman orphanage of Aubazine in Corrèze, and her brothers to to a cruel peasant family. -
Her first works
At 18 years she was transferred a religious boarding school of Notre Dame, and she was until 21 years. She started working as a seamstress and learned to make hats in a haberdashery in Moulins, and she combined it with her performances in La Rotonde, a café-concert.
Chanel performed in clubs in Vichy and Moulins where she was called 'Coco' -
Her first business
A friend of Etienne who played polo, called Arthur 'Boy' Capel and Coco had a mutual attraction. Etienne decided to lend him the ground floor of his bachelor flat in Paris. Coco moved and started her hat business. -
Chanel Models
In 1910 he opened his first Chanel Models, at 21 Rue Cambon in Paris, where he sold hats. -
A hard year
Coco became pregnant with Boy but had a miscarriage and became sterile.
Coco Julia's sister died and Coco adopted her son André Palasse. -
A special year
In the 20s, Coco was well known, and her style was very famous and important. Coco moved to the villa Bel Respiro, in Garches. She met Igor Stravinski, a 20th-century musical composer. Igor and his family went to live with Coco. And the two of them became lovers, he gave her an icon he had brought from Russia and she helped him pay for some of his projects. Coco met Pablo Picasso and they became great friends.