Christian Louboutin is a well known French shoe designer. He was born in Paris, France in 1963. He was the only son of a cabinet-maker, Roger, and homemaker named Irene. He and his three female siblings are of European French descent. Louboutin was the darkest one in his family. Due to his dark skin tone, he believed he was adopted and began rebelling all throughout his childhood. He also struggled in school because he often felt misunderstood. His rebellious actions led him to become expelled from school three times. At the age of 12, he ran away from home and moved in with his peers’ family.
At this same age, Louboutin frequently visited the flea markets and snuck into shows to watch famous showgirls perform. During his visit to the African and Oceanic Art Museum, he became inspired to create shoes. Louboutin received little formal training during his lifetime; the small amount he received was at the Academie Roederer where he studied drawing and decorative arts.
During his teens, he traveled for a year in Egypt and India. Inspired by these foreign cultures, the young Christian decided to return to Paris with a portfolio full of heels in 1981. While in Paris, he worked as a freelance designer for brands like Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Maud Frizon. He also tutored under designer, Charles Jourdan. In 1988, Roger Vivier, a famous designer who worked for Dior, took Christian under his wing. Vivier helped Louboutin sharpen his shoe designing and manufacturing skills.
In 1991, Christian finally established his own company. He opened up his first boutique, Christian Louboutin, in Paris, France. With the help of Princess Caroline of Monaco and a fashion journalist, he instantly became famous. He gained famous clients, like Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and more. Louboutin’s most famous global trademark is the red bottom heels. Christian Louboutin currently owns boutiques in more than one hundred boutiques, located in over 23 countries.