LVMH Brands

Table of Contents

Fendi

Fendi is a luxury fashion house that was founded in Rome in 1925 by Adele and Edoardo Fendi. Since that time, Fendi has become known for craftsmanship and innovation while remaining true to its Roman roots. The company specializes in fur, leather, ready-to-wear, shoes, perfumes, eyewear, watches, and other accessories.

In 1999, LVMH and Prada joined forces to take a 51% stake in Fendi in a deal reportedly worth $850 million. Two years later, LVMH purchased Prada’s 25.5% stake in Fendi for $262 million to take control of the company.

This was during the Luxury Wars years.

Belvedere

Belvedere is a Polish rye vodka brand that was founded in 1993. The company initially produced vodka in a distillery constructed in 1910 before the first import was sent to the United States in 1996. Belvedere’s vodka contains zero additives in accordance with specific regulations and is also certified kosher.

LVMH acquired a 40% stake in Belvedere owner Millennium Import Company in 2002 with the stake increasing to 100% in 2005. Under LVMH’s direction, Belvedere was named the Vodka Producer of the Year for the third consecutive year at the 2017 International Spirits Challenge.

Officine Universelle Buly

Officine Universelle Buly is a French beauty brand that was founded in Paris in 1803 by Jean-Vincent Bully. Bully used his expertise and talent to create the Vinaigre de Toilette cosmetic vinegar which served as a skin tonic, cure-all, and deodorant. The product was popular with fashionable and affluent Parisians in the nineteenth century.

Officine Universelle Buly was revived in 2014 by Ramdane Touhami and Victoire de Taillac who had a passion for sharing France’s beauty care heritage. The company is a relatively recent acquisition for LVMH, having only been acquired in 2021. However, LVMH previously invested in the company via its minority investment arm in 2017.

Woodinville

LVMH touts Woodinville as “one of the top craft distilleries in America” and “more than just a whiskey.” The company was started in Woodinville, Washington state, and makes artisanal, small-batch brown spirits.

Woodinville does not have a storied history like some other LVMH brands and was instead started in 2010. The company exists because two friends had a dream to make the world’s best whiskey with traditional bourbon production methods in a craft environment.

LVMH’s acquisition of Woodinville in 2017 marked the company’s first entry into the American whiskey market. The details of the deal were undisclosed.

Moynat

Moynat is a Parisian maker of luggage and suitcases that was founded by Octavie and François Coulembier in 1849. The company rose to prominence with the automobile revolution and is named after Pauline Moynat, the first woman to bring feminine flair to the male-dominated luxury trunk-making industry.

The rights to Moynat were acquired by LVMH in 2010 after the brand had sat idle for over 40 years. CEO Bernard Arnault was swift to reawaken Moynat with stores in Paris, London, and Hong Kong. True to tradition, the company mostly focuses on making one item at a time and much of the stitching is done by hand.

Glenmorangie

Glenmorangie is a Scottish maker of single-malt whisky since 1843. The distillery is considered a pioneer in the industry, combining traditional practices with innovation and using the tallest stills in Scotland.

LMVH acquired Glenmorangie in 2004 for around £300 million which represented a 6% premium on the company’s then-market capitalization. In the process, it outbid compatriot Pernod Ricard.

Since the acquisition, LVMH has turned the Scottish whisky into a global sensation without diminishing the quality of the whisky itself. This was facilitated by an updated label and the ability of Glenmorangie to leverage LVMH’s extensive distribution network. The company has also made investments in extra stills to increase production.

Kenzo

Kenzo is a fashion brand that was founded in Paris in 1970 by Kenzo Takada. The first boutique opened in Galerie Vivienne, with the company becoming known for a mix of prints, refined colors, and exuberant but cultured and optimistic creativity. There are now 122 stores around the world in 28 countries.

LVMH acquired Kenzo in 1993 for around $80 million. At the time, the company noted that it would enable its Louis Vuitton division to establish a strong position in fashion and accessories.

Loewe Perfumes

Loewe Perfumes is a botanic scent maker that released its first fragrance in 1972. The company is part of the Spanish luxury fashion house Loewe which also specializes in clothes, leather products, and other accessories.

Since its inception, Loewe Perfumes has created several iconic perfumes for men, women, and the home. The Botanical Rainbow, for example, comprises nine fragrance families inspired by nature, while the Home Scents range captures the essence of a vegetable garden.

LVMH purchased the rights to Loewe’s international distribution in 1986. It then acquired the remaining 70% of the company in 1996 for an undisclosed sum.

Hublot

Hublot is a luxury watchmaker that was founded in 1980 by Italian entrepreneur Carlo Crocco. Headquartered in Switzerland, Hublot managed to establish a foothold in the competitive watch market with a blend of traditional watchmaking techniques, unconventional materials, and cutting-edge technology.

Crocco sold Hublot to LVMH in 2008 for an undisclosed sum. Post-acquisition, Hublot complemented other watch brands under the LVMH stable. These include TAG Heuer, Zenith, and collections from jewelers such as Fred, Chaumet, and De Beers.

Le Parisien

Le Parisien is a general interest news media brand that is read by around 18 million people across various formats each month. Le Parisien’s mission is to provide quality, unbiased information that covers a vast range of subjects.

The brand started life as Le Parisien Libéré in 1944 after the liberation of Paris in the Second World War. The name was shortened to Le Parisien in 1986 with the publication at the time a regional daily newspaper. In 1994, it started to be distributed around the country and became known as Aujourd’hui en France.

LVMH purchased Le Parisien from the media group Amaury in 2015. According to Reuters, the French multinational offered around €50 million to purchase the company and consolidate its media business.