Before Lanvin became a luxury fashion house, it started as a small millinery and hat house. Its founder, designer Jeanne Lanvin, began her career in 1889. At just 16 years old, she opened her first hat shop in Paris. This eventually led to the brand’s relocation to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, which became an important part of Lanvin’s historic brand lineage.

It wasn’t until the 1920s and 1930s that Lanvin transformed into a lifestyle empire. Jeanne Lanvin collaborated with designer Armand-Albert Rateau, expanding the house beyond fashion and into interior design and other areas of luxury. The brand also launched iconic perfumes, including Arpège and My Sin, during the 1920s and 1930s. This expansion was followed by the introduction of Lanvin’s men’s line in 1926.