Jacques HEIM, born 8 May 1899 in Paris and died 8 January 1967 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, was a French fashion designer and costume designer for theater and film, and was a manufacturer of women's furs. From 1930 to his death in 1967, he ran the fashion house Jacques Heim, which closed in 1969. In the early 1920s, HEIM started working in his parents' fur business, which they had founded in 1898. He took over the business in 1923, and within a few years had added a couture department, designing dresses and coats, made with original fabrics, working in collaboration with Sonia DELAUNAY. Under the presidency of Charles de GAULLE, he was appointed designer of the president's wife, Yvonne de GAULLE. His most prominent clients were Sophia LOREN, Queen Fabiola of Belgium, Mamie EISENHOWER and actress Gloria SWANSON. In 1956, Heim made the bikini an international sensation when Brigitte BARDOT wore one of his designs. HEIM served as President of Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne (Paris Fashion Trade Association) from 1958 to 1962.