Rihanna’s fashion label with LVMH, Fenty, opens in Paris

Bloomberg

Rihanna revealed her first Fenty collection in Paris. She arrived wearing a blazer as a dress—the white canvas number had exaggerated shoulders and was cinched in at the middle with a built-in corset—paired with strappy going-out heels in gold leather, all from her new label.
The mood was boss lady on top, party girl below. This mix of high and low took on menswear inspirations with a feminine twist. And it’s exactly what the 31-year-old pop star says she wants to bring to the table as the first woman to start a new brand from scratch at LVMH, France’s biggest company by market value.
“How I dress is about what I feel like in that moment,” Rihanna said during an interview in the Paris showroom.
“How comfortable I want to be… I feel like women are multifaceted in that way, and Fenty celebrates that.”
On the eve of her first “drop” for the brand—which will release the products online on May 29 in a “see now, buy now” model—Rihanna hosted press and friends of the new venture in Paris’s posh Marais district, where 18th century hotels particuliers and medieval churches are interspersed with design bookshops and contemporary art galleries.
After nearly two years of work behind the scenes, Fenty’s debut offer was a mix of ready-to-wear pieces like slouchy denim overshirts, leather shoes, and costume jewellery with crystal cuffs. Fenty sunglasses, produced by LVMH’s joint venture with Italian eyewear-maker Marcolin, were stacked high on columns in the middle of the room. Some of the suits had matching pants, while others are meant to be worn as dresses.
The prices range from €200 ($223) for a T-shirt to €1,100 for a parka. They are quite a few notches below the usual fare at such LVMH brands as Louis Vuitton, where cocktail dresses often retail above €2,500. Rihanna says she wants to keep prices as accessible as possible while still using luxurious materials and technique. “I hope I can reach a broad audience,” she said.
“I can’t wait to walk outside and just run past someone who’s wearing it. I think that’ll be a huge moment for me.”
Her vision for a more inclusive luxury brand doesn’t stop at the price. Her team designed the collection with Rihanna’s body in mind instead of a runway model. “I’m a curvy girl, and if my stuff doesn’t fit me, that’s not going to work,” she said.
LVMH partnered with Rihanna to launch Fenty Beauty, a makeup brand, in September 2017. (The name comes from the singer’s full name, Robyn Rihanna Fenty.)
After the venture surged to nearly €500 million in sales during its first year in business, the owner of luxury stalwarts such as Dior, Celine, and Givenchy says it has given carte blanche to the Barbadian musician to lead the new label.
The company brings investment funds, supply chain expertise, and business and design talent to support the project, while Rihanna is set to boost the products’ visibility with a broad swath of consumers—and give LVMH’s corporate image a shot in the arm.