Oldest Fashion House

The elegantly polished streets of Paris are a residence to the best fashion houses in the world. In fact, this fashion hub is birth to most of these “haute” houses. The oldest and perhaps the first fashion house is Lanvin. The venerable house of Lanvin was found in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin.

Jeanne Lanvin

Jeanne Lanvin, the central character of this house of fashion story, was born in Paris in 1867 and was the eldest amongst eleven siblings. Coming from a modest family, Jeanne started at the age of sixteen by becoming an apprentice milliner (a person who makes or sells women’s hats) at Madame Félix in Paris, later gaining training at dressmaker Talbot. 

Jeanne Lanvin's Office

By 1890 she established her own milliner shop at 22, Rue du Faubourg, Saint- Honoré in Paris.  Five years later she married Count Emilio di Pietro and two years later they had a daughter named Marguerite di Pietro.

Marguerite di Pietro

Jeanne doted her daughter, Marguerite became her muse and it was said that Jeanne would use rare fabrics and furs, ‘drawing from the treasure of her studios’ for her daughter’s clothing. This attracted attention from a number of wealthy mothers who asked the same to be made for their children leading to an addition of children section to Lanvin. Soon the mothers wanted the designs for themselves too, and a year later a girl’s and ladies’ department was added.

           

After that there was no stopping Lanvin. From 1923 the empire included a dye factory, shops devoted to home décor and menswear, furs and lingerie were added. 

 home décor

Yet the biggest breakthrough was Lanvin Parfums. 

Lanvin Parfums

Jeanne became the most influential designer of the 1920’s and 1930’s. She had a flair for working with expensive fabrics and her creations could be easily identified. She was famous for her skillful use of embellishment, the delicate trimmings and embroideries along with fine beadwork. 

Free-flowing ribbons, ruffles, flowers, lace or mirrors were some of her favorites. Her choice of ornamentation were appliqué, couching, quilting, parallel stitching embroidery and subtle use of sequins. 

After the death of Jeanne her daughter took over and after the 1990’s the house has exchanged many hands but the idea has remained the same, where the logo says it all.

Lanvin's Logo

 A logo of a mother and child, holding hands highlights the point poetically. Lanvin has always been a family affair and the current creative head Albert Elbaz also believes that the nature of fashion is family.

Albert Elbaz