Cligman

Léon Cligman (1920). French clothing entrepreneur. Born in Tighina, Russia. When still a child, he arrived in Paris with his family, fleeing the Soviet regime. His father established the firm Indreco Manufacturing. Léon studied at the École Supérieure de Commerce in Paris, worked in the Boussac Weaving Mills and at Galeries Lafayette. Starting in the 1950s he applied new production techniques and new stylistic criteria (an anticipation of prêt-à-porter) to his father’s business. The result was a yearly volume of 10 million pieces. Indreco, under his management, took over Newman, Seiligmann, and C. Mendés. Pierre Lévyg, his father-in-law, entrusted him with the relaunch of the Devanlay Group, an operation with which he had great success, especially with the Lacoste brand.