Lanvin
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | 1889 in Paris, France |
| Founder | Jeanne Lanvin |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Luxury fashion, accessories, perfumes |
| Owner | Lanvin Group (part of Fosun International) |
| Parent | Lanvin Group |
Lanvin () represents a prestigious French luxury fashion brand, established in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin in Paris. It holds the distinction of being the longest-standing French fashion house still active today. Since 2018, Lanvin has been part of the Shanghai-based Lanvin Group, which also encompasses brands such as Sergio Rossi, Wolford, St. John Knits, and Caruso.
Jeanne Lanvin Era (1889–1946)
The origins of the House of Lanvin trace back to 1889 with the opening of a millinery boutique at 16 Rue Boissy-d’Anglas. In 1893, Jeanne Lanvin expanded by acquiring 22 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, which became the brand’s principal store. Born in 1867, Lanvin initially launched her millinery business on Rue du Marche Saint Honore in 1885.
Lanvin’s daughter Marguerite inspired a children’s clothing collection introduced in 1908. By joining the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture in 1909, Lanvin officially established herself as a couturier and extended her offerings to women’s fashion.
In 1920, collaboration with interior designer Armand-Albert Rateau led to the creation of an interior design boutique, broadening Lanvin’s luxury product range.
Logo
The emblem of Lanvin draws inspiration from a 1907 photograph depicting Jeanne Lanvin and her daughter dressed alike. French illustrator Paul Iribe crafted this logo in 1923. Designer Alber Elbaz remarked, “It’s neither a lion nor a horse. It represents a mother and daughter, which makes the logo deeply emotional."
In 1923, Lanvin inaugurated a dye manufacturing facility in Nanterre to develop exclusive hues for its products. Although perfumes had been launched earlier, Lanvin Parfums was officially founded in 1924. The fragrance Mon Péché (My Sin), created by Maria Zède and André Fraysse in 1925, gained notable acclaim in both France and the United States.
By 1926, the brand diversified into menswear, fur garments, and lingerie collections. The legendary fragrance Arpège debuted in 1927 as a tribute to Marguerite’s 30th birthday; it became Lanvin’s hallmark scent with the slogan "Promise her anything, but give her Arpège."
Post-Jeanne Lanvin Period (1946–present)
After Jeanne Lanvin passed away in 1946, her daughter Marguerite (Countess Marie-Blanche de Polignac) assumed leadership of both Jeanne Lanvin and Lanvin Parfums. Upon Marguerite’s death without heirs in 1958, ownership transferred to their cousin Yves Lanvin.
In 1964, Lanvin Parfums merged with Charles of the Ritz, followed by acquisition by Squibb Corporation in 1971. By 1978, the perfume division separated from Charles of the Ritz and was sold; however, the Lanvin family maintained control over the fashion sector.
A majority shareholding in Lanvin was sold to Midland Bank in 1989. Designer Claude Montana took charge of the haute couture branch and unveiled his inaugural collection in January 1990.
L'Oréal Era (1990–2001)
In 1990, Orcofi (the holding company of Henry Racamier) alongside L'Oréal acquired Lanvin from Midland Bank and the founding family. By 1994, L'Oréal had increased its ownership to 66%, becoming the principal shareholder; this stake rose to 94% in 1995 before achieving full control in 1996.
Following Claude Montana’s exit in 1992, Lanvin ceased producing haute couture collections. In March 1996, Ocimar Versolato debuted his first women’s ready-to-wear collection after being appointed head of that division in 1995. That same year, Versolato also designed an eveningwear line for Bergdorf Goodman under the Lanvin label.
Ownership under Harmonie (2001–2018)
In August 2001, the investor consortium Harmonie S.A., led by Taiwanese media tycoon Wang Shaw-lan, acquired Lanvin. By 2003, Wang had consolidated ownership by purchasing the shares of other investors, becoming the sole proprietor.
From 2005 onward, Joix Corporatic held the ready-to-wear license for Lanvin in Japan, generating retail revenue of €50 million. Meanwhile, the Japanese licensee Itochu reported sales close to $280 million in 2007, exceeding the brand’s worldwide revenue figures.
Lanvin divested its fragrance division to Interparfums in 2007. The brand launched its inaugural U.S. boutique in Bal Harbour, Florida, in December 2009.
By 2011, Lanvin’s revenue reached €203 million. The following year, investor Ralph Bartel increased his ownership stake to 25% through a capital infusion of €17.5 million.
On 20 November 2013, Lanvin was appointed as the official tailor for Arsenal FC.
In October 2015, Alber Elbaz exited the company due to conflicts among shareholders. His successor, Bouchra Jarrar, took over in March 2016 but departed the next year. Olivier Lapidus then assumed creative leadership until March 2018; no replacement was named after his tenure.
Ownership under Fosun International (2018–present)
Lanvin was acquired by Shanghai-based Fosun International in February 2018 through the purchase of shares from Wang and Bartel, who held 75% and 25% respectively. Following the acquisition, Jean-Philippe Hecquet was appointed CEO but resigned after an 18-month period in March 2020.
In October 2021, Fosun Fashion Group—the parent company of Lanvin—was rebranded as Lanvin Group. Siddhartha Shukla joined as Deputy General Manager in December of that year.
The group went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2023 with a valuation of approximately US$1.5 billion. That same year saw the launch of Lanvin Lab, a platform for collaborative capsule collections; its debut collaboration was with rapper Future.
In June 2024, Lanvin announced Peter Copping as its new artistic director, responsible for both womenswear and menswear lines.
Alber Elbaz
Alber Elbaz was named artistic director for all facets of Lanvin in October 2001, including interior design elements. His work, characterized by elegant flowing silhouettes and sumptuous fabrics, earned widespread praise. In 2006, he unveiled new packaging inspired by the forget-me-not flower’s hue—a signature color drawn from a Fra Angelico fresco.
On 2 September 2010, H&M revealed Lanvin as their guest designer for the Winter 2010 collection. The line became available online on 4 November 2010 and launched in 200 retail locations worldwide on 20 November, preceded by an exclusive pre-sale at H&M Las Vegas. Supermodel Natasha Poly served as the campaign's lead face.
Lucas Ossendrijver
Lucas Ossendrijver took charge of Lanvin’s menswear line in 2006. His debut men’s ready-to-wear collection drew inspiration from a Jean-Luc Godard film. During his Autumn/Winter 2006 show, he introduced LANVIN’s urban sneakers featuring patent leather toe caps; these designs were later adapted into women’s footwear collections. The brand gained notable U.S. exposure in May 2009 when Michelle Obama was photographed wearing Lanvin suede sneakers with grosgrain ribbon laces and metallic pink toe caps, retailing at $540.
Bouchra Jarrar
In March 2016, Bouchra Jarrar was named Creative Director of Lanvin. She delivered only two ready-to-wear collections before stepping down in 2017. According to Lanvin, her exit was a consensual decision.
Bruno Sialelli
Bruno Sialelli, a French designer, assumed the role of Lanvin's creative director in January 2019, initiating what was described as a "significant new chapter" for the label. Prior to this, he collaborated with Jonathan Anderson at the Spanish fashion house Loewe and encountered considerable expectations to rejuvenate Lanvin. After four years, he departed in April 2023.
Peter Copping
Peter Copping was announced as Lanvin's artistic director in June 2024, with his tenure starting in September 2024. His professional experience includes spearheading Balenciaga's revival in Haute Couture and holding creative director positions at Oscar de la Renta and Nina Ricci.
Directors
- 1946–1950: Marie-Blanche de Polignac, owner and director
- 1942–1950: Jean Gaumont-Lanvin, general director
- 1950–1955: Daniel Gorin, general director
- 1959: Yves Lanvin, owner; Madame Yves Lanvin, president
- 1989–1990: Léon Bressler, chairman
- 1990–1993: Michel Pietrini, chairman
- 1993–1995: Loïc Armand, chairman
- 1995–2001: Gérald Asaria, chairman
- 2001–2004: Jacques Lévy, general director
- 2009–2013: Thierry Andretta
- 2013–2017: Michèle Huiban
- 2017–2018: Nicolas Druz
- 2018–2020: Jean-Philippe Hecquet
- 2020: Joann Cheng (interim)
- 2021: Arnaud Bazin
- 2021–present: Siddhartha Shukla, CEO
Designers
- 1946–1958: Marie-Blanche de Polignac, general director and designer
- 1950–1963: Antonio del Castillo, women's collections
- 1960–1980: Bernard Devaux, hats, scarves, haute couture; women's diffusion line (1963–1980)
- 1964–1984: Jules-François Crahay, haute couture and "Boutique de Luxe" line
- 1972: Christian Benais, men's ready-to-wear
- 1976–1991: Patrick Lavoix, men's ready-to-wear
- 1981–1989: Maryll Lanvin, ready-to-wear and inaugural haute couture collection (1985)
- 1989–1990: Robert Nelissen, women's ready-to-wear
- 1990–1992: Claude Montana (haute couture); Eric Bergère (women's ready-to-wear)
- 1992–2001: Dominique Morlotti, women's and men's ready-to-wear
- 1996–1998: Ocimar Versolato, women's ready-to-wear
- 1998–2002: Cristina Ortiz, women's ready-to-wear
- 2002–2015: Alber Elbaz, artistic director overseeing all creative endeavors
- 2003–2006: Martin Krutzki, men's ready-to-wear
- 2006–2018: Lucas Ossendrijver, men's collections
- 2016–2017: Bouchra Jarrar, women's collections
- 2017–2018: Olivier Lapidus, women's collections
- 2018–2019: Estrella Archs, women's collections
- 2019–2023: Bruno Sialelli, women's and men's collections
- 2024–present: Peter Copping, women's and men's collections
Advertising
Lanvin has collaborated with esteemed photographers including Craig McDean (2000) and Steven Meisel (1999, 2012, 2022), enhancing the brand’s reputation within the luxury fashion market.