Jump to content

Betty Clemo: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Addbot (talk | contribs)
Bots
2,838,809 edits
m Bot: Migrating 1 interwiki links, now provided by Wikidata on d:q4898783
m MOS:STATEABBR
 
(34 intermediate revisions by 25 users not shown)
Line 5: Line 5:
| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_name = Elizabeth Charnuis Borjin
| birth_name = Elizabeth Charnuis Borjigin
| birth_date = 1920
| birth_date = 1920
| birth_place = [[Beijing]]
| birth_place = [[Beijing]], China
| death_date = 2005
| death_date = 2005
| death_place =
| death_place =
| nationality = [[United Kingdom]]
| nationality = British
| field = [[Art Director]]/[[Costume designer]]
| field = [[Art director]]/[[Costume designer]]
| training =
| training =
| movement =
| movement =
Line 22: Line 22:
}}
}}


'''Betty Clemo''' 莫蘭詩 (1920–2005) was a Hong Kong-based fashion and costume designer active in the 1950s until the end of the 1990s.
'''Betty Clemo''' 莫蘭詩 (1920–2005) was a Hong Kong–based fashion and costume designer active in the 1950s until the end of the 1990s.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Elizabeth 'Betty' Borjin Charnuis Clemo Yen was born in Beijing in 1920. Her father was Chinese, belonging to the [[Mongolia|Mongolian]] [[Borjigit]] clan. Her mother, Yekaterina (Catherine) Charnuism was Russian, and apprenticed for [[Jeanne Lanvin]] in Paris.<ref>de Chiree, Sylvie, "Jeanne Lanvin" (1988). ISBN 88-216-3756-5</ref> After her father's death, Betty moved to [[Shanghai]], where her mother operated a [[Haute couture|couture]] house called Atelier Charnuis. She employed primarily Russian refugees and catered to the high society of Shanghai, including the [[Soong sisters]].<ref>Princess Der Ling, "Song of Heaven" (1938). ASIN B000RAN1WM</ref>
Elizabeth 'Betty' Borjin Chernyshyova 'Charnuis' Clemo Yen was born in [[Beijing]] in 1920. Her father was Mongolian, belonging to the [[Mongolia]]n [[Borjigit]] clan. Her mother, Yekaterina (Catherine) Chernyshyova was Russian, and apprenticed for [[Jeanne Lanvin]] in Paris.<ref>de Chiree, Sylvie, "Jeanne Lanvin" (1988). {{ISBN|88-216-3756-5}}</ref> After her father's death, she moved to [[Shanghai]], where her mother operated a [[Haute couture|couture]] house called Atelier Chernyshyova, later renamed Atelier Charnuis ({{Lang-zh|c=夏如意}}). She employed primarily Russian refugees and catered to the high society of Shanghai, including the [[Soong sisters]].<ref>Princess Der Ling, "Song of Heaven" (1938). ASIN B000RAN1WM</ref>


==Career in film industry==
==Career==
Clemo married English diplomat William Clemo in the 1930s and moved to London at the outbreak of [[World War II]]. William died during the war and Clemo eventually moved to Los Angeles under the advice of [[Elinor Glyn]].<ref>Glyn, Elinor, "Romantic Advanture" (1936). ASIN: B00088ZKMW</ref> With the help of [[Elsie de Wolfe]],<ref>de Wolfe, Elsie, "After All" (1938). ASIN B0006AMUSY</ref> whose husband, Sir Charles Mendl, was a colleague of William Clemo, she was hired as a costume consultant for [[20th Century Fox]] and worked extensively with [[Edith Head]], [[Irene Sharaff]], and [[Charles LeMaire]].<ref>"Hollywood and History" (1965), ASIN: B000RJ75OS</ref> She later moved to New York and worked as the chief fashion designer for [[Hattie Carnegie]].
Clemo married English diplomat William Clemo in the 1930s and moved to London at the outbreak of [[World War II]]. William died during the war and Clemo eventually moved to Los Angeles under the advice of [[Elinor Glyn]].<ref>Glyn, Elinor, ''Romantic Adventure: Being the Autobiography of Elinor Glyn'' (1936). ASIN: B00088ZKMW</ref> With the help of [[Elsie de Wolfe]],<ref>de Wolfe, Elsie, ''After All'' (1938). ASIN B0006AMUSY</ref> whose husband, Sir Charles Mendl, was a colleague of William Clemo, she was hired as a costume consultant for [[20th Century Fox]] and worked extensively with [[Edith Head]], [[Irene Sharaff]], and [[Charles LeMaire]].<ref>''Hollywood and History'' (1965), ASIN: B000RJ75OS</ref> She later moved to New York and worked as the chief pattern maker for [[Valentina (fashion designer)|Valentina Schlee]].


Clemo relocated to [[Hong Kong]] at the end of the 1950s to work as an art director and costume designer for Shaw's studio. Under the studio system, she worked at numerous projects and is best remembered for her collaboration with [[Lin Dai]], where she designed most of her costumes on and off stage. She was awarded Best Art Director at the [[Asia Pacific Film Festival]] in 1961 for the movie ''Les Belles''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
Clemo relocated to [[Hong Kong]] at the end of the 1950s to work as an art director and costume designer for Shaw's studio. Under the studio system, she worked at numerous projects and is best remembered for her collaboration with [[Lin Dai]], where she designed most of her costumes on and off stage.


In 1962 she started her own fashion brand, Betty Clemo, and set up a boutique called Betty Clemo's Couture at the [[Peninsula Hotel]] in Hong Kong.<ref>www.hongkongskyscrapers.com, "The Peninsula"</ref> Generally regarded one of the first fashion designer in Hong Kong,<ref>Aimann Lau, 2008-03-08, "New Design Force". Modern Weekly International, p.18-19</ref> she was the first to introduce Paris haute couture to Asia by importing licensed line-to-line adaptions of Paris haute couture fashions to Hong Kong.<ref>Aimann Lau, 2008-03-08, "New Design Force". Modern Weekly International, p.18-19</ref> Labels she carried throughout the years included [[Christian Dior]], [[Nina Ricci (brand)|Nina Ricci]], [[Maggy Rouff]], [[Norman Hartnell]], and [[Hanae Mori]]. Apart from local movie stars and socialites from Hong Kong, she also attracted a following of international celebrities such as Hollywood actresses [[Greta Garbo]], [[Marlene Dietrich]], [[Joan Crawford]], [[Anna May Wong]], [[Ava Gardner]], [[Susan Hayward]], [[Merle Oberon]],<ref>N. Kwan, 1966, South China Morning Post, p.15</ref> and royal figures such as the [[Duchess of Windsor]] and [[Princess Margaret]].<ref>Anita Moorjani, 1964, Hong Kong Tiger standard, p.8</ref>
Generally regarded one of the first fashion designers in Hong Kong,<ref>Aimann Lau, 2008-03-08, "New Design Force". ''Modern Weekly International'', pp. 18-19</ref> she was the first to introduce Paris haute couture to Asia by importing licensed line-to-line adaptations of Paris haute couture fashions to Hong Kong.<ref>Aimann Lau, 2008-03-08, "New Design Force". Modern Weekly International, p.18-19</ref> She created her eponymous boutique Betty Clemo's Couture in [[The Peninsula Hong Kong|The Peninsula]] in 1962.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=Pioneering PEN |url=https://issuu.com/theantithesis/docs/pen-2018dec_lofinalsingle |access-date=2 May 2024 |publisher=The Peninsula}}</ref> Labels she carried throughout the years included [[Christian Dior]], [[Nina Ricci (brand)|Nina Ricci]], [[Maggy Rouff]], [[Norman Hartnell]], and [[Hanae Mori]]. Apart from local movie stars and socialites from Hong Kong, she also attracted a following of international celebrities such as Hollywood actresses [[Greta Garbo]], [[Marlene Dietrich]], [[Joan Crawford]], [[Anna May Wong]], [[Ava Gardner]], [[Rita Hayworth]], [[Merle Oberon]], [[Jennifer Jones]] and [[Sophia Loren]]<ref>N. Kwan, 1966, ''South China Morning Post'', p. 15</ref> and royal figures such as the [[Duchess of Windsor]] and [[Princess Margaret]].<ref>Anita Moorjani, 1964, ''Hong Kong Tiger Standard'', p. 8</ref>


She retired in the mid-1990s and moved to London with her grandchildren. She died in her sleep in 2005. Her fashion company is currently operated by her family in London, with boutiques in London, New York, Hong Kong, Macau, and numerous duty free shops throughout China.
She retired in the mid-1990s and moved to London with her grandchildren. She died in her sleep in 2005.

She is the grandmother of the New York fashion designer Chocheng.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-16 |title=5 Things to Know about Emerging Designer Chocheng |url=https://observer.com/2017/02/5-things-to-know-about-emerging-designer-chocheng/ |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=Observer |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Awards ==

* 1961: Best Art Director at the [[Asia Pacific Film Festival]] for the movie ''Les Belles''{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}


== Filmography ==
== Filmography ==
⚫
* ''[[Stage Fright]]'' (1946){{ref|1|1}}
⚫
* ''[[Sudden Fear]]'' (1952){{ref|1|1}}
⚫
* ''[[Affair in Trinindad]]'' (1952){{ref|1|1}}
⚫
* ''[[Call Me Madam]]'' (1953){{ref|1|1}}
⚫
* ''[[Love is a Many Splendored Thing]]'' (1955){{ref|2|2}}
⚫
* ''[[The King and I]]'' (1956){{ref|2|2}}
⚫
* ''[[The World of Suzie Wong]]'' (1960){{ref|2|2}}
⚫
* ''[[Flower Drum Song]]'' (1962){{ref|2|2}}
⚫
* ''[[Les Belle|千嬌百媚]]'' (1961){{ref|3|3}}
⚫
* ''[[Love Parade|花團錦簇]]'' (1962){{ref|3|3}}


{{note|1|1}} Assistant Costume Designer<br>
=== Assistant costume designer ===
⚫
* ''Stage Fright'' (1946)
{{note|2|2}} Costume Consultant<br>
⚫
* ''[[Sudden Fear]]'' (1952)
{{note|3|3}} Art Director
⚫
* ''[[Affair in Trinidad]]'' (1952)
⚫
* ''[[Call Me Madam (film)|Call Me Madam]]'' (1953)


=== Costume consultant ===
⚫
==References==
⚫
* ''[[Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (film)|Love is a Many Splendored Thing]]'' (1955)
<references />
⚫
* ''[[The King and I (1956 film)|The King and I]]'' (1956)
⚫
* ''[[The World of Suzie Wong (film)|The World of Suzie Wong]]'' (1960)
⚫
* ''[[Flower Drum Song (film)|Flower Drum Song]]'' (1962)


=== Art director ===
==External links==
⚫
* ''[[Les Belle|千嬌百媚]]'' (1961)
*[http://hkmdb.com/db/people/view.mhtml?id=27639&display_set=big5/ HKmdb]
⚫
* ''[[Love Parade|花團錦簇]]'' (1962)
*[http://people.mtime.com/1454452/filmographies/ Mtime]

*[http://www.europetrade.blogspot.com/ Europetrade]
⚫
==References==
*[http://www.hongkongskyscrapers.com/the-peninsula/ The Peninsula]
<references />{{authority control}}
*[http://www.shenzhenluxury.com/Html/List_Show_11183.Html/ ShenZhen Luxury]


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Clemo, Betty
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =Elizabeth Borjin Charnuis Clemo Yen
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =fashion designer, film art director
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1920
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Beijing]]
| DATE OF DEATH = 2005
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clemo, Betty}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clemo, Betty}}
⚫
[[Category:Hong Kong fashion designers]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:Artists from Beijing]]
[[Category:Artists from Beijing]]
⚫
[[Category:Hong Kong women fashion designers]]
[[Category:Chinese emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:British emigrants to Hong Kong]]

Latest revision as of 12:59, 18 September 2024

莫蘭詩 (Mo Lan Shi) Betty Charnuis Clemo
Born
Elizabeth Charnuis Borjigin

1920
Beijing, China
Died2005
NationalityBritish
Known forArt director/Costume designer
AwardsAsia Pacific Film Festival

Betty Clemo 莫蘭詩 (1920–2005) was a Hong Kong–based fashion and costume designer active in the 1950s until the end of the 1990s.

Early life

[edit]

Elizabeth 'Betty' Borjin Chernyshyova 'Charnuis' Clemo Yen was born in Beijing in 1920. Her father was Mongolian, belonging to the Mongolian Borjigit clan. Her mother, Yekaterina (Catherine) Chernyshyova was Russian, and apprenticed for Jeanne Lanvin in Paris.[1] After her father's death, she moved to Shanghai, where her mother operated a couture house called Atelier Chernyshyova, later renamed Atelier Charnuis (Chinese: 夏如意). She employed primarily Russian refugees and catered to the high society of Shanghai, including the Soong sisters.[2]

Career

[edit]

Clemo married English diplomat William Clemo in the 1930s and moved to London at the outbreak of World War II. William died during the war and Clemo eventually moved to Los Angeles under the advice of Elinor Glyn.[3] With the help of Elsie de Wolfe,[4] whose husband, Sir Charles Mendl, was a colleague of William Clemo, she was hired as a costume consultant for 20th Century Fox and worked extensively with Edith Head, Irene Sharaff, and Charles LeMaire.[5] She later moved to New York and worked as the chief pattern maker for Valentina Schlee.

Clemo relocated to Hong Kong at the end of the 1950s to work as an art director and costume designer for Shaw's studio. Under the studio system, she worked at numerous projects and is best remembered for her collaboration with Lin Dai, where she designed most of her costumes on and off stage.

Generally regarded one of the first fashion designers in Hong Kong,[6] she was the first to introduce Paris haute couture to Asia by importing licensed line-to-line adaptations of Paris haute couture fashions to Hong Kong.[7] She created her eponymous boutique Betty Clemo's Couture in The Peninsula in 1962.[8] Labels she carried throughout the years included Christian Dior, Nina Ricci, Maggy Rouff, Norman Hartnell, and Hanae Mori. Apart from local movie stars and socialites from Hong Kong, she also attracted a following of international celebrities such as Hollywood actresses Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford, Anna May Wong, Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth, Merle Oberon, Jennifer Jones and Sophia Loren[9] and royal figures such as the Duchess of Windsor and Princess Margaret.[10]

She retired in the mid-1990s and moved to London with her grandchildren. She died in her sleep in 2005.

She is the grandmother of the New York fashion designer Chocheng.[11]

Awards

[edit]

Filmography

[edit]

Assistant costume designer

[edit]

Costume consultant

[edit]

Art director

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ de Chiree, Sylvie, "Jeanne Lanvin" (1988). ISBN 88-216-3756-5
  2. ^ Princess Der Ling, "Song of Heaven" (1938). ASIN B000RAN1WM
  3. ^ Glyn, Elinor, Romantic Adventure: Being the Autobiography of Elinor Glyn (1936). ASIN: B00088ZKMW
  4. ^ de Wolfe, Elsie, After All (1938). ASIN B0006AMUSY
  5. ^ Hollywood and History (1965), ASIN: B000RJ75OS
  6. ^ Aimann Lau, 2008-03-08, "New Design Force". Modern Weekly International, pp. 18-19
  7. ^ Aimann Lau, 2008-03-08, "New Design Force". Modern Weekly International, p.18-19
  8. ^ "Pioneering PEN". The Peninsula. 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  9. ^ N. Kwan, 1966, South China Morning Post, p. 15
  10. ^ Anita Moorjani, 1964, Hong Kong Tiger Standard, p. 8
  11. ^ "5 Things to Know about Emerging Designer Chocheng". Observer. 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Betty_Clemo&oldid=1246354886"