Bijie Martin

Born in New York City, she was the daughter of American Opera singers Riccardo Martin and Ruano Bogislav.

From the time Martin was a small child she was dubbed 'Bijie' by her theatrical parents who moved between homes in New York, Paris and Italy.

She early on developed an interest in theatre, but unlike her vocally talented parents opted to find a path on dramatic stage.

Her brief though critically praised theatrical career in the early 1920s led to a close friendship with actress Tallulah Bankhead whom she met in London.

Martin remained as "Directrice" of the company for nearly thirty years overseeing the development of fashion lines and maintaining strong connections with high-profile customers including the Duchess of Windsor.