Harald Glööckler

Harald Glööckler, real name Harald Glöckler (born 30 May 1965 in Maulbronn), is a German fashion designer and entrepreneur, who became famous mainly for his rhinestone-studded and glittering creations. Glööckler's trademark is a crown motif, which is often supplemented by a "POMPÖÖS" lettering. Glööckler's parents owned a restaurant. He has a brother who is two years his junior. When Glööckler was 14 years old, his mother died by falling down stairs. This was regarded an accident by authorities, however according to Glööckler, the fall was caused by his father, to whom he never spoke a single word again, until he died in 1992, 13 years later. Glööckler was already interested in fashion in his youth and sewed evening gowns for acquaintances. He completed an apprenticeship as a retail salesman in the fashion store Sämann and was initially active as a salesman in the men's department of a fashion house in Mühlacker. On 30 November 1987, he opened the fashion store "Jeans Garden" in Stuttgart together with his manager and life partner, a haberdasher called Dieter Schroth, where they initially sold mainly jeans and shirts designed by Glööckler. Later, the name of the fashion business was changed to "Pompöös". In 1990 both founded a fashion label under the same name. In 1994 they organized their first fashion show at the Stuttgart New Palace. A song with the title "Pompöös is my life" and a music video were produced for the show. In 1995, Glööckler, Schroth and costumed dancers performed as a music group called Pompöös at a fashion show and at several German TV shows such as Arabella and RTL Nachtshow. In the same year Gina Lollobrigida and Chaka Khan became both his customers and friends. Lollobrigida opened Glööckler's second fashion show, which took place at Stuttgart's Alte Reithalle and featured Chaka Khan and Grace Bumbry. In 1997 Glööckler was invited to Hong Kong to present his fashion show for the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Interstoff Asia trade fair.