CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF LANVIN PARIS

by Valirie Morgan

Lanvin’s 125th anniversary website.

French fashion house Lanvin is marking its 125th anniversary this year. In celebration of the milestone, the label has launched an ongoing digital campaign called “Lanvin Heritage: 125 Years of Creation,” which outlines the history of the iconic brand since it was founded by Jeanne Lanvin in 1889.

The oldest fashion house in Paris, Lanvin has taken quite a modern approach to its retrospective celebration. The official Lanvin 125th anniversary website launched at the beginning of the month, offering visitors a beautiful and interactive timeline of the label’s historical highlights as well as an archive of photographs, videos and original artwork by Jeanne Lanvin herself. New items will be added to the collection every Thursday until the timeline reaches the present year, which is expected to happen in mid-May.

“Lanvin wishes to celebrate the 125 year anniversary every week, during the entire year,” said Lanvin spokesman Charles-Henry Paradis. “Three other sections, dedicated to Jeanne Lanvin, Alber Elbaz and Lucas Ossendrijver, will be launched when the timeline will reach the year 2014.”

In addition to the new section of the website, Lanvin has also taken to social media to share the brand’s storied heritage with the rest of the world. Lanvin’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages feature weekly updates and links to newly released historical content. The brand is also making use of its Pinterest page to share photos, videos and links organized into several sections: Le bleu (Lanvin’s trademark blue colour), Jeanne Lanvin (the fashion house’s founder), Marguerite (founder Jeanne’s daughter), La mariée (wedding dress designs), Le logo (a look at how the logo has evolved over time), and Les chapeaux (hat designs, which were a part of Lanvin from the very beginning).

Spend a bit of time perusing the site and Lanvin’s social media profiles and you’ll learn more than you ever thought possible about one of the world’s most classic high fashion labels. Lanvin has had an incredibly impressive 125 years in existence so far. We’re certain that the fashion house will continue to grow its more-than-a-century-long legacy with even more beautiful designs and collections! Take a look at some of our favorite pictures from the 125th anniversary archive collection below:

(Left): Jeanne Lanvin and her daughter, Marguerite, in 1907. This image inspired the Lanvin logo. (Right): The Lanvin logo, designed by Paul Iribe.

Jeanne Lanvin’s private office at rue du Faubourg St. Honoré Paris.

A sketch of the first Lanvin wedding dress, which debuted in the 1911 summer collection.

Jeanne Lanvin chooses fabrics in her office, 1936.

A sample of embroidery from 1927, from Madame Lanvin’s private collection.