Heidemarie Jiline Sander, was born in Wesselburen, Germany in 1943. Before embarking on a career as a fashion designer, she worked as a journalist for the U.S. magazine McCalls. In 1968 she opened her first boutique in Hamburg, and five years later she founded the fashion house Jil Sander GmbH, showing her first collection in 1974. Known for her sober and minimalist style, clean cuts, essential lines and the use of neutral colors like white and black.