It looks like the Queen of Pop Madonna is getting ready to launch a range of clothing with King of Jeans Christian Audigier.
Madonna, along with fellow celebrities Britney Spears and Kanye West, is known to be a fan of Christian's label Ed Hardy, aka The King of Tattoos. This royal fashion marriage has been suggested by The Daily Mirror newspaper which claims Madonna "visited his LA office just days before the Oscars and is finalising the designs as we speak, including tattoo-inspired T-shirts and diamante-encrusted bodices."
Audigier was born in France in 1958 and has developed an impressive fashion empire which includes 9 brands and 60 licences. He brought the ailing Von Dutch brand out of obscurity and helped make its trucker hats one of the most ubiquitous fashion accessories the world has ever known. As well as fashion lines including one he has launched with his daughter, Crystal Rock, and Smet with iconic French star Johnny Hallyday, Audiger also produces wine, water, chocolates and even has his own-name nightclub in Las Vegas. Christian Audigier has the exclusive rights to tattooist Don Ed Hardy and has built the Ed Hardy tattoo-inspired label into an international player.
Madonna, who recently starred in an advertising campaign for Louis Vuitton, collaborated with high street chain H&M in 2007. Her fashion credentials took a blow recently when she was voted Worst Dressed Celebrity of 2009 by PETA. The animal rights group, famous for their scathing put-downs, said on their website: "We know that she's on the prowl for a young cub, but someone needs to tell Madge that wearing fur doesn't make you a cougar." Other offenders on the list included the Olsen twins, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kanye West and Liz Hurley.
Marian Buckley/Sarah Horrocks