Coco Chanel

My name is Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, but you can call me Coco Chanel. I was born in 1883 in the Loire Valley of France. When I was just 6 years old, my mother passed away, leaving my father to raise 5 children. However, I was separated from my siblings and sent to an orphanage, where I learned how to sew. I first worked for a tailor, and then as a singer in restaurants and concert halls. I later began to design hats, with my first stores being financed thanks to my friend, the rich industrialist Arthur Edward Capel. This is the story of how I became one of the most famous fashion figures of the 1900s. I innovated new styles for women and developed a perfume that has remained popular even today. I was a pioneer in designing loose women's jersey, which dramatically changed fashion. Although I came from humble origins, living in poverty, that did not stop me from emerging as a fashion icon. Anyone can work their way up in society and prosper if they put in the effort. My success story is one of many, all coming from people who lived in capitalist societies. Are famous entrepreneurs and industrialists coming to mind? Just think: this could be YOU.