Hanae Mori, who was born in Japan, married the son of a textile manufacturer, and studied fashion design. Mori became a costume designer for Japanese movie directors, including Akira Kurosawa. Mori was inspired by a chance meeting with Coco Chanel to undertake further design training.
Mori first showed her collection in New York in 1965, and moved her design house to Paris in 1975. She became the only Asian designer admitted to the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.
Mori retired in 2004 after over 50 years of work in fashion, and her design house ceased to make haute couture.