Gabrielle Chanel, known as Coco Chanel, was born in 1883 in France. She grew up in an orphanage after losing her mother at age 6. In 1910, she opened her first millinery shop in Paris and later opened boutiques in Deauville and Biarritz. In 1922, she created her famous perfume Chanel No. 5, which became hugely popular. Throughout her career, she launched iconic fashion pieces like the little black dress and the cardigan jacket. Chanel worked as a designer until her death in 1971 at age 88.