Richard Robinson (fashion designer) Richard Robinson (fashion designer) Richard Robinson is a Canadian fashion designer based in Ottawa, Ontario. He is the proprietor of Richard Robinson Haute Couture, and operates the Richard Robinson Academy of Fashion Design. Robinson entered the fashion business by working for Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent in their Paris ateliers. In 1969 he started his own fashion company in Ottawa. In 1972, Robinson opened the Richard Robinson Fashion Design Academy. Each year in May the Academy mounts a fashion show to display the work of both Robinson and his students. The event is usually held at the Lac Leamy
Fashion design operational outfit. Fashion design is generally considered to have started in the 19th century with Charles Frederick Worth who was the first designer to have his label sewn into the garments that he created. Before the former draper set up his "maison couture" (fashion house) in Paris, clothing design and creation was handled by largely anonymous seamstresses, and high fashion descended from that worn at royal courts. Worth's success was such that he was able to dictate to his customers what they should wear, instead of following their lead as earlier dressmakers had done. The term "couturier" was in fact