Jean Cacharel SA (French:[kaʃaʁɛl]) is a French company of ready-to-wear clothing, perfume and accessories, founded in 1958 by Jean Bousquet.[1][2] Cacharel designs are characterized by their youthful style, femininity, lightness, refinement, and use of bright colours. Cacharel is named after the local name of the garganey (Anas querquedula, a small duck) in the Camargue (cacharel, standard French sarcelle d'été).[3]
Cacharel was created in 1958 by the French politician Jean Bousquet in Nîmes, where he was mayor of the commune for two mandates.[4][5]
Jean Bousquet was the son of a sewing machine salesman; he was immersed in the world of clothes-making since childhood. He trained to be a tailor at a technical college and worked for two years as a designer before returning to Paris to found his own fashion house in Le Marais. The success of his first collection inspired him to create Cacharel.[citation needed]
The introduction of the seersucker blouse and a front cover in Elle magazine, in 1963 launched Cacharel onto the international stage.[citation needed]
A number of designers subsequently moved to Cacharel, including his sister-in-law Corinne Sarrut, Agnès b, Lolita Lempicka, Emmanuelle Khanh, Corinne Cobson, Japanese designer Atsuro Tayama, the duo Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto, and Clemens Ribeiro.[6] Since April 2009, Cédric Charlier (ex-Lanvin) has been in charge of women's design at Cacharel, with 4 seasons under his belt, replaced in 2011 by Ling Liu and Dawei Sun.[7]
Izzy Bizu, British-Ethiopian singer-songwriter, became the face of the New Cacharel fragrance, Yes I Am in 2018.[8][9]
In 2022, Shay Mitchell from Pretty Little Liars, released a lipstick-shaped fragrance bottle.[10]
In 2023, Cacharel announced that actress, Skai Jackson, would be the new face of the Yes I Am Bloom Up! fragrance.[11][12][13]
Since 1975 Bousquet commissioned L'Oréal to create a perfume for his brand; the successful Anaïs Anaïs was launched in 1978.[14] It was followed by Cacharel pour l'Homme, Loulou, Eden, Loulou Blue, Eau d'Eden, Noa, Nemo, Gloria, Amor Amor, Amor Amor Eau Fraiche, Noa Fleur, Noa Perle, Promesse, Amor pour homme and Scarlett.[15] The perfume "Liberté", is an orange chypre with fresh citrus top notes inspired by a traditional French cake called 'chamonix' and woody heart and base notes with patchouli. The person representing Liberté in ad campaigns is Brazilian-born model, Gisele Bündchen, who is also the new face for the brand Cacharel Parfums, following Kate Moss who modeled for Anaïs Anaïs and Laetitia Casta for Promesse.[citation needed]
Cacharel is owned by Jean Bousquet's family which holds 80% stake in the company and by Novinvest of Rothschild,[clarification needed] which holds 20%.[18]
