Lanvin (clothing)

Lanvin is a clothing company founded by Jeanne Lanvin.

History

Lanvin made such beautiful clothes for her daughter that they began to attract the attention of a number of wealthy people who requested copies for their own children. Soon, Lanvin was making dresses for their mothers, and some of the most famous names in Europe were included in the clientele of her new boutique on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris. 1909, Lavin joined the Syndicat de la Couture, which marked her formal status as a couturière.

From 1923, the Lanvin empire included a dye factory in Nanterre. 1920s, Lanvin opened shops devoted to home decor, menswear, furs and lingerie, but her most significant expansion was the creation of Lanvin Parfums SA in 1924 and the introduction of her signature fragrance Arpège in 1927, inspired by the sound of her daughter's practising her scales on the piano. A later perfume "My Sin" surely has to be one of the most unique fragrances; an animalic-aldehyde based on heliotrope.

One of the most influential designers of the 1920s and '30s, Jeanne Lanvin's skilful use of intricate trimmings, virtuoso embroideries and beaded decorations in clear, light, floral colors became a Lanvin trademark.

When Lanvin died in 1946, ownership of the firm was ceded to the designer's daughter, who shared management of the firm from 1942 with a cousin and then a fashion-industry expert. Because Marie-Blanche de Polignac was childless when she died in 1958, the ownership of the House of Lanvin went to a cousin, Yves Lanvin. (See Directors and Officiers Since Jeanne Lanvin below.)

The company has shuttled from here and there, beginning in March 1989 when Britain's Midland Bank bought a stake in the company from the family. The bank brought in Léon Bressler to revamp the firm's faded image. However, February 1990, Midland backed out and sold Lanvin to Orcofi, the French holding company led by the Vuitton family. From Orcofi, 50% of the House of Lanvin was acquired by L'Oréal in 1994, 66% in 1995 and 100% in 1996. Under L'Oréal's diverse umbrella, an array of CEOs who circulate within the French fashion industry directed the company.

August 2001, Lanvin, the oldest fashion house still in operation, was taken private again by investor group Harmonie S.A., headed by Mrs. Shaw-Lan Wang, a Taiwanese media magnate. And, October 2001, Alber Elbaz was appointed the Lanvin artistic director for all activities, including interiors, and he has conducted his responsibilities in a highly personal, hands-on manner. 2006, he introduced new packaging for the fashion house, featuring a forget-me-not flower color, Lanvin's favorite shade which she purportedly saw in a Fra Angelico fresco. (Suzy Menkes, 2005.)

Retail Presence

Lanvin Boutiques are located in Paris, New York, Boston, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, London, Casablanca, Geneva and Moscow.

Lanvin's biggest wholesale customer in the United States is Barneys New York.

Directors and Officers Since Jeanne Lanvin

* 1946–1950, Lanvin's daughter Marie-Blanche de Polignac, owner and director
* 1942–50, Marie-Blanche's cousin Jean Gaumont-Lanvin (Colombes, 1908–Versailles, 1988), director general
* 1950–1955, Daniel Gorin (Paris, 1891–Paris, 1972), director general
* 1959, Marie-Blanche's cousin Yves Lanvin, owner; Madame Yves Lanvin, president.
* 1989–1990, Léon Bressler, chairperson
* 1990–1993, Michel Pietrini, chairperson
* 1993–1995, Loïc Armand, chairperson
* 1995–2001, Gérald Asaria, chairperson
* 2001–2004, Jacques Lévy, director general

Designers Since Jeanne Lanvin

* 1946–1958, Marie-Blanche de Polignac, director general and designer
* 1950–1963, Castillo (b. Antonio Canovas del Castillo del Rey, 1908– d. 1984), women's collections
* 1960–1980, Bernard Devaux, hats, scarves, haute couture; women's "Diffusions" line 1963–1980,
* 1964–1984, Jules-François Crahay (Liège, 1917–1988), haute couture collections and "Boutique de Luxe"
* 1972, Christian Benais, men's ready-to-wear collection
* 1976–1991, Patrick Lavoix, men's ready-to-wear collections
* 1981–1989, Maryll Lanvin, ready-to-wear, first haute couture in 1985 and women's "Boutique" collections
* 1989–1990, Robert Nelissen, women's ready-to-wear collections
* 1990–1992, Claude Montana, five haute-couture collections
* 1990–1992, Eric Bergère, women's ready-to-wear collections
* 1992–2001, Dominique Morlotti, women's and men's ready-to-wear collections
* 1996–1998, Ocimar Versolato, women's ready-to-wear collections
* 1998–2002, Cristina Ortiz, women's ready-to-wear collections
* From 2002, Alber Elbaz, artistic director of all creative activities
* From 2003, Martin Krutzki, designer of men's ready-to-wear
* 2005-present, Lucas Ossendrijver, Designer of men's ready-to-wear