Everyone in the fashion world knows Karl Lagerfeld — the eccentric designer and legendary creative director of Chanel and Fendi. But few people know that Lagerfeld had almost Russian roots.
Lagerfeld’s House — in Vladivostok.
According to fashion historian Alexander Vasiliev, Karl’s parents once lived in Vladivostok. They owned a home and a large dairy business there. In fact, the house is reportedly still standing today. ⠀
During the Russian Revolution, the family moved back to Germany. In 1933, Karl was born in Hamburg, and by 1953 he had moved to Paris with his family — the city where his legendary career would begin.
A Love for the Russian Language and Culture
From a young age, Lagerfeld was fascinated by Russian culture. He often praised Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, studied the Russian language, and once said:
“Russia has the most beautiful women.”
Russian aesthetics frequently inspired his collections — you can see echoes of ballerinas, palaces, and pre-revolution elegance in many of his designs.
Why Does This Matter to Children?
For children growing up abroad, Russian often feels like just the language of moms and grandmas. It may seem irrelevant or uninteresting. But when kids learn how many global icons admire Russian culture, they start to feel curious and even proud.
We’ve already written about famous bilinguals, and about celebrities who speak Russian thanks to their family roots. Stories like these show that Russian isn’t just a “home” language — it’s part of a global, cultural conversation.
Russian Is More Than Grammar. It's:
- Fashion
- It's beautiful
- Music
- Movies and cartoons
- Theater
- Ballet
- and more
That’s exactly how we teach Russian at Palme School — through real interests, inspiring stories, and cultural connection. We don’t just teach the language — we show kids why it matters.
Book a free online tour of Palme School and let your child discover the bigger picture of the Russian language. You’ll find the form at the bottom of this page.
