LANVIN, a magic name…

The oldest French couture house, founded in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin, is today a reference for the Parisian industry of luxury, from fashion to perfumes and accessories.

Recognised for her talent, Jeanne Lanvin created a style, a global universe of elegance and refinement. An aficionado of culture, she surrounded herself with artists and young talents from numerous domains, providing an outstanding cultural heritage. Today, faithful to her philosophy, Lanvin perpetuates this artistic tradition, particularly through advertising campaigns.

Since September 2001, the house of Lanvin has been an independent company. The desire of the owners is to return this major French name to its former prestige and to make it once again a flourishing enterprise. Since its establishment, the headquarters of the Jeanne Lanvin firm have been situated at 15 and 22 Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, a street famed internationally for its standing in the luxury market.

More than 200 employees work on this site across the six major activities that are women’s prêt-à-porter, men’s prêt-à-porter and tailoring, accessories, perfumes and watches.

Lanvin’s notoriety extends well beyond France. The brand is a reference for French luxury across all continents in terms of luxury as well as fashion, from Asia – Hong-Kong and Taiwan – to the USA and New York in particular.

In the Middle-East, Lanvin, with its men’s products and perfumes, is the leading brand in the majority of countries in which it is implanted.

In Europe, Lanvin’s presence never ceases to increase across multi-brand sales points and celebrated department stores.

Throughout the globe, over 300 men and women, representing a heritage and a savoir-faire, transmit their energy and passion to bring Lanvin firmly into the 21st century.

LANVIN, history ...

It was Jeanne Lanvin’s unique and exceptional love for her daughter, Marguerite, that was the source of inspiration of her work. Born in Paris in 1867 and the eldest in a family of eleven children, her first taste for the business came at a very young age, delivering hats for a milliner located in rue du Faubourg St-Honoré. In 1885, she opened her own workshop in a small room on top of the St-Honoré market, before opening her first boutique in the rue Boissy d’Anglas in 1889.

Jeanne Lanvin would perhaps have remained a milliner of some renown, had it not have been for her special relationship with her daughter. Jeanne began to create dresses for Marguerite’s dolls, then clothes for Marguerite herself. It did not take long before Jeanne’s millinery clients began ordering her other magnificent creations as well.

In 1909, Jeanne became a member of the Dressmaker’s Union, and her fashion career took off. Her devotion for Marguerite (the French word for “daisy”) can be clearly seen in all of Jeanne’s work – from the daisy motif chosen for the decoration of her townhouse in 1920, to the creation of the perfume Arpège seven years later. The golden emblem showing Jeanne and her daughter dressed on their way to a ball became Lanvin’s logo in 1954.

In the 1920s, the house of Lanvin grew dramatically: 1,200 employees, three buildings in Paris, seven branches in France and worldwide. A dye works was created in the city of Nanterre, outside Paris. It was there that the famous Lanvin blue was created, inspired by a Fra Angelico fresco with which Jeanne adored. At the same time, Jeanne struck up a collaboration with Armand Albert Rateau (1882-1938), which led to the creation of Lanvin Decoration.

Rateau created an entire universe for Jeanne Lanvin: the furnishings for the boutiques at 15 rue du Faubourg St- Honoré, the interior of her townhouse in the rue Barbet-de-Jouy, and the Arpège perfume bottle’s elegant black sphere. Several of his creations are still displayed in the Paris Decorative Arts Museum.

Seventy-five years ago this year, Jeanne Lanvin opened the Custom Made Department for men to complete her vision of a luxurious lifestyle that was her own. Her unique style, grace, elegance and meticulous attention to detail makes Jeanne Lanvin one of the most influential figures in the history of 20th century fashion.

She was awarded France’s prestigious “Legion d’honeur” by the filmmaker Sacha Guitry in 1936 and was known as the Ambassador of French Elegance.

Today, the famous French luxury house that carries her name has grown to encompass more than 65 boutiques worldwide and continues Jeanne’s tradition of making apparel that has character but also complements a person’s individuality.