Out of the ashes and bloodshed of a war-torn Europe, Mary-Louise Carven helped create “contemporary fashion.” Sadly, the French designer passed away this week at the age of 105 in Paris on Monday. Founder of the Carven Fashion House, Ms. Louise stood at a towering 5’’1, devoting part of her work to creating clothing for women who had trouble finding a wardrobe that fit their smaller stature.

She was also one of the few woman designers in an industry that was mainly dominated by men in the mid-twentieth century. However, this didn’t stop Mary from patenting the first push-up bra or introducing her own perfume onto the market, Ma Griffe.

Her fashion momentum came to a halt in 1994 when she turned 84 and stopped designing. While not as common a household name as Gucci or Chanel to the average shopper, Madame Carven leaves behind a lasting legacy of achievements that hold significance in the worlds of both fashion and gender equality.

Images courtesy of Carven