Nicole Farhi

Nicole Farhi, Lady Hare, CBE (born 25 July 1946) is a French fashion designer and sculptor born in Nice, France.

Farhi is the daughter of Sephardic Jews from Turkey. She was born in France.

Farhi started her career as a freelancer in Paris, before moving to London in the 1970s.

In 1978, Farhi was employed by Stephen Marks on his French Connection label, to head up the company’s design studio in Bow, East London.

In 1982, Marks assisted Farhi in launching an eponymous Nicole Farhi higher-end fashion label within the French Connection group. The label opened shops worldwide, as well as restaurants in London and New York City; but the non-UK locations have since closed.

On 15 March 2010, French Connection announced the sale of the brand and retail chains to OpenGate Capital for up to £5 million. Administrators Zolfo Cooper were appointed on 3 July 2013, to advise on sale or restructuring of the remaining five UK shops and associated retail outlets located within Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser and Selfridges.

Farhi and Marks' professional relationship resulted in a personal relationship, and the couple had a daughter, Candice Marks, before separating. Farhi married British playwright David Hare in 1992.

She is a cousin of the writer and human rights campaigner Moris Farhi.

In 2007, Farhi was appointed an honorary CBE, and, in 2010, she was awarded the Legion of Honour.

In February 2007, Farhi was a signatory to the declaration of the Independent Jewish Voices, a new Jewish network, calling for an open and critical debate on Israel and criticising certain Jewish organisations' unconditional support of Israel.