Audigier began working in the fashion industry at the age of fifteen. He designed a line of denim that was inspired by his love for rock and roll, specifically The Rolling Stones. His designs became so popular that a top executive from MacKeen Jeans took notice of Audigier's talent, affording him the opportunity to create with the company and travel the world.[3][4] He moved to New York in his early twenties to expand his own brand.[5] He worked with Guess, Levi's, Diesel, Fiorucci, Bisou Bisou and XOXO, Smet, among others.[6]
Audigier on a motorcycle in 2010
He then moved to Los Angeles where he would achieve most of his success as a fashion designer. After the death of artist Kenny Howard, also known as Von Dutch, in 1992, Howard's daughters sold the Von Dutch name to Ed Boswell who then began working together with Michael Cassel and Robert Vaughn to create the Von Dutch brand. Later, Tonny Sorensen would be brought in as an investor and would become a 51% owner of the company while Michael Cassel owned 49%. It was Tonny Sorensen who initially brought in Christian Audigier. [who?] The clothing brand that followed gained popularity in the US and attracted the attention of celebrities such as Madonna, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and later Ashton Kutcher and Eric Church. Audigier helped popularize the brand, but left on amicable terms in 2007. He went on to popularize the Ed Hardy brand.[7] Audigier's other brands include SMET with French singer Johnny Hallyday.[7][8] Audigier's brands are sold internationally in over 40 countries.[9][unreliable source?]
In 2008, he joined forces with a small cooperative in France, Montpeyroux Estates, to release a line of fine wines. The bottles are wrapped with labels that are designed with the classic Ed Hardy designs and are done by art director and photographer Barry Sutton.[9][unreliable source?]
^Vecsey, Laura (26 February 2014). "For Sale: Ed Hardy Designer's Boldly Redone Tudor Home". Yahoo!. Retrieved 14 January 2022. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Mid Wilshire area abode was purchased by the creator of the Ed Hardy brand in 2007 for $2.695 million.
