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Markus Lupfer was born in Kißlegg, a small town in southern Germany. Fashion was far from his everyday surroundings, but TV programs about runway shows, including Ungaro and Chloe, shaped his early interest. After studying at a German art college, he moved to the United Kingdom. He entered the fashion design program at the University of Westminster in London.

In 1997, Lupfer graduated with a first-class degree, and the London boutique Koh Samui bought his final collection. It sold out within two weeks, giving the young designer an unusual start in retail rather than only in showroom attention. In 1999, he made his London Fashion Week debut with a ready-to-wear collection. In 2001, he received the British Fashion Council’s New Generation Award.

In 2006, Lupfer became design director at the Spanish house Armand Basi. His Armand Basi One collections for 2008 and 2009 were shown at London Fashion Week, and in 2008, he won Designer of the Year at the Marie Claire Prix d’Excellence de la Mode. By 2009, he had left Armand Basi and returned to his own label with a stronger focus on stores, buyers, and commercial growth.

In 2010, Markus Lupfer returned to the official London Fashion Week schedule. Around this period, the brand became closely associated with sequin lip knitwear, a product later worn by Rihanna, Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Cara Delevingne, and Pippa Middleton. Lupfer also worked with Mulberry, Ruffo, and Cacharel. In 2014, the brand launched its online store and was sold through Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Net-A-Porter, Le Bon Marché, and TSUM.