Topell, Elise Helene

Fashion designer

Born: 07.05.1904 in Minden (Westphalia)

died: 08.10.1984 in Wiesbaden

Topell began as a trainee at Niels Prien's Berlin fashion house, then moved to the Friedländer and Leschziner houses and went to Nuremberg as a directrice. After returning to Berlin, she achieved her first successes in Hermann Gerson's made-to-measure department. In Paris, she learned the secrets of tailoring from Madeleine Vionnet. In 1933, she set up her own company, Frekato-Modelle, on Hausvogteiplatz in Berlin. In 1948, she decided to move to West Germany and found a new home in the west wing of Biebrich Palace. In 1964, she moved into a country house at Rheingaustraße 129, where she was able to live and work.

Topell was one of the few women at the forefront of German modeling. She was able to successfully continue her renowned label at her last home in Wiesbaden's Wilhelmstrasse. Her creations were also bought by the first fashion houses in Europe and overseas. After her death in 1984, the fashion designer Lollo Grund took over the fashion house.