How the World’s Oldest Fashion House Became Famous
Lanvin is one of the leading brands in luxury fashion, and since its creation in Paris in 1889, it remains one of the oldest existing French haute couture fashion houses. The history of the Lanvin brand is characterised by originality, family ties, and everlasting elegance in the world.
The Origins of Lanvin
The famous fashion house Lanvin was created by Jeanne Lanvin. At first, Jeanne worked as a hatmaker and in 1889 opened her shop in Rue Boétie, Paris, after that moved to the popular 22 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, which is currently managing Lanvin boutique. Her designs quickly won over Parisian high society.
A Daughter’s Inspiration
The change happened when Jeanne’s daughter, Marguerite, was born in 1897; Jeanne then started to design attractive costumes for her and soon wealthy customers requested the same types of dresses for their own children. As a result Lanvin had a dedicated line for children and this led to the concept of matching mother-and-daughter fashion, which was a revolutionary idea at that time. The brand’s logo was introduced in 1907 and showed Jeanne and Marguerite holding hands, being a symbol of the love that lay at the heart of the house.
Why Lanvin Became Famous
Several achievements made Lanvin a global name:
Jeanne Lanvin was known for her romantic silhouettes, delicate embroidery, rich colours and the elegant robe de style of the 1920s; her characteristic colour, ‘Lanvin blue’, is still admired.
The range was extended to include men’s clothing in 1926, after which the company introduced fur products, lingerie and home décor, thus creating a complete lifestyle brand.
A famous scent: In 1927 Lanvin launched Arpège, one of the most well-known perfumes in history, thereby establishing Lanvin Parfums on a global scale.
The Modern Era
Following Jeanne Lanvin’s death in 1946 the house was run by a number of different famous designers. In the 2000s Alber Elbaz brought the brand back using fluid draping, glamorous cocktail dresses and a modern, feminine approach, gaining a following among celebrities and fashion critics. Ever since then new creative directors have headed the label and it is now owned by the Lanvin Group, a company which has the support of Fosun Fashion Group.
Lanvin Today
The company nowadays provides ready-to-wear clothing, accessories, handbags, footwear and fragrances for men and women. Its reputation still depends on the founder’s vision, which consisted of refined craftsmanship, Parisian elegance and a touch of emotion in each design.
Conclusion
The history of Lanvin goes beyond that of a fashion brand; it illustrates how a woman’s talent together with her love for her daughter led to the creation of a brand which has now lasted for more than 130 years. The brand is still regarded as a symbol of luxury and sophistication worldwide because of its everlasting designs, the Arpège fragrance, and its Parisian origins.
