HISTORY

LVMH was created in 1987 through the merger of Moët Hennessy and Louis Vuitton, ushering in a new era for the luxury industry.

Bernard Arnault has led the Group since 1989 and is the majority shareholder, pursuing a clearly focused vision: make LVMH the world leader in luxury. An unprecedented portfolio of iconic brands makes LVMH unique in the world, a Group that has continued to grow and thrive since its founding.

LVMH's development initially centered on acquiring brands, bringing them the benefits of  the Group's proven expertise, nurturing their growth while respecting their distinctive identities. All LVMH Maisons share a strong belief that the desirability of their products is intimately linked to their sustainability. This is why LVMH has always ensured that product manufacturing complies with the highest ethical, environmental and social standards.

Corporate philanthropy in support of the arts and culture has been a cornerstone of the Group since its creation and a guiding force behind its development. This philanthropy resonates with the values of skilled professionalism, excellence and creativity shared by our Maisons, values that characterize their artistic, cultural and social contributions. Initiated by Bernard Arnault in 2006, the Fondation Louis Vuitton opened to the public in 2014, a breathtaking embodiment of the philanthropy pursued by the Group and its Maisons.

With 75 Maisons in key sectors of the luxury industry—Wines & Spirits, Fashion & Leather Goods, Fragrance & Cosmetics, Watches & Jewelry, Selective retailing and Other activities, including Hospitality and Media—LVMH is now the world leader in luxury. The Group's economic footprint in the regions where it operates—80 countries around the world—extends far beyond simply business performance by creating value at multiple levels thanks to our activities.

GROUP HISTORY

1987 CREATION OF LVMH

The merger of Moët Hennessy and Louis Vuitton creates LVMH, the world leader in luxury goods. The Group had 10 Maisons, 12,000 employees and sales of 3 billion euros.

1996

ACQUISITION OF LOEWE AND CELINEFounded in 1846 and rooted in craftsmanship and tradition, the Spanish Maison Loewe has been drawing inspiration from art and historical references to reinvent leatherwork for almost 200 years.Founded in 1945 by Céline Vipiana, Celine is a French fashion and leather goods Maison that is now one of the world's most emblematic couture brands. 

1999

CREATION OF THE WATCHES & JEWELRY DIVISIONLVMH's latest business group, Watches & Jewelry, was created through a series of acquisitions of complementary Maisons in the world of high-end watchmaking, including TAG Heuer, a Swiss brand founded in 1860, which joined LVMH in 1999.

1999

INAUGURATION OF LVMH NEW YORK HEADQUARTERS BUILDINGLVMH inaugurates its New York headquarters in the heart of Manhattan, in a building designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc, the first Frenchman to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize.

1999

ACQUISITION OF KRUG & CHÂTEAU D’YQUEMThe Maison was established in 1843, by Joseph Krug, a visionary non-conformist with an uncompromising philosophy. Having understood that the true essence of Champagne is pleasure itself, his dream was to craft the very best Champagne he could offer, every single year, regardless of climate variations.The one and only Premier Grand Cru Supérieur awardee in the 1855 classification, Château d'Yquem tells the story of a remarkable expertise that has been passed down since 1593. LVMH acquired the estate in 1999, with the continued desire to go on writing the legendary Yquem story, both in keeping with tradition and remaining open to modern advances.

2000

ACQUISITION OF FRESH, PUCCI AND CONNAISSANCE DES ARTSTrue explorers, Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg founded Fresh in 1991. They have spent their lives traveling the earth to uncover natural wonders and and local beauty rituals.Emilio Pucci, Marquis of Barsento, founded the brand that bears his name in 1947. A citizen of the world, constantly traveling between his native Florence and the holiday resorts favored by the jet set, he envisioned the modern woman following a revolutionary intuition full of style and personality.Founded in 1952, Connaissance des Arts is the leading magazine for art from all eras, from archeology to contemporary art, from the art of gardening to photography, and from design to architecture.

2001

ACQUISITION OF FENDIFounded by Adele and Edoardo Fendi in Rome in 1925, over the years Fendi has emerged as a Maison renowned for its craftsmanship and innovation deeply linked to its Roman roots.In 2007 Fendi was the first Maison to stage a show on the Great Wall of China.

2004INAUGURATION OF LVMH HEADQUARTERS AT 22 AVENUE MONTAIGNE IN PARIS

On May 25, 2004, the LVMH Group inaugurated its new headquarters on avenue Montaigne in Paris, redesigned by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte.

2005

WATCHES & JEWELRY DIVISION BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE RESPONSIBLE JEWELLERY COUNCIL (RJC)

2009

PUBLICATION OF LVMH CODE OF CONDUCTThe Code of Conduct reflects the Group’s commitments to ethics and integrity, social and environmental responsibility. It refers to the charters and internal policies that have been developed on these topics to form the ethics framework that governs all actions taken by LVMH. It is available in 19 languages.

2010

PARTNERSHIP WITH FRENCH PAVILION AT SHANGHAI WORLD EXPO 2010

2011

FIRST EDITION OF JOURNÉES PARTICULIÈRESThe Journées Particulières of LVMH showcases the amazing diversity of métiers and savoir-faire within LVMH Maisons across the world. For the 5th edition, in 2022, 93 sites from 57 Maisons opened their doors to over 200,000 visitors in 15 countries.

2011

ACQUISITION OF BVLGARIFounded in the heart of Rome in 1884, Bvlgari has established a worldwide reputation as magnificent Roman High Jeweler and icon of Italian art of living. 

2013


LAUNCH OF LVMH PRIZE FOR YOUNG FASHION DESIGNERSLVMH has always been devoted to supporting the talent of tomorrow. Each edition of the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers recognizes the talent of a particularly outstanding designer, selected by a jury of Artistic Directors from our Maisons.

2013

INAUGURATION OF HELIOS, FRAGRANCE & COSMETICS DIVISION RESEARCH CENTERLocated in the heart of France's Cosmetic Valley, Hélios is a major technological platform in perfumes and cosmetics. In six separate buildings covering 18,000 m², the center houses 250 researchers and more than 20 areas of specialist expertise in an open working environment, designed to encourage the exchange of information.

2014

INAUGURATION OF FONDATION LOUIS VUITTONDesigned by architect Frank Gehry in Paris's Bois de Boulogne, the Fondation Louis Vuitton aims to support contemporary French and international artistic creation and make art accessible to the broadest possible audience through a permanent collection, temporary exhibitions, commissions of artwork, as well as a diverse schedule of multi-disciplinary events. 

2014

LAUNCH OF INSTITUT DES MÉTIERS D’EXCELLENCE LVMHThe ME Institute was founded in 2014 to pass on savoir-faire defined by excellence in Craft, Creative and Client Experience métiers, targeting both young generations and people seeking reskilling opportunities, in partnership with prestigious schools and universities and LVMH Maisons.

2016

ACQUISITION OF RIMOWAFounded in Cologne in 1898, RIMOWA has become one of the quintessential Maisons for prestigious luggage, renowned for its iconic design and its pursuit of excellence.

2018

ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARTER FOR WELL-BEING OF MODELS WITH KERINGThe Charter reflects the two groups’ active commitment to eliminating certain behaviors and practices that are not compatible with their values, while raising awareness among models that they have an active role to play in promoting these changes. 

2019

ACQUISITION OF BELMONDEstablished in 1976, Belmond pioneered luxury travel, building a portfolio of one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the world’s most inspiring destinations.

2020

FIRST EDITION OF LVMH WATCH WEEKHeld for the first time in Dubai, the LVMH Watch Week has since been held every year in a different destination to present new products from its watchmaking Maisons to journalists and retailers from all over the world.

2021

ACQUISITION OF TIFFANY & CO.Founded in 1837 in New York City, Tiffany & Co. is one of the world’s most storied luxury design houses recognized globally for its innovative jewelry design, extraordinary craftsmanship, unparalleled creativity, and its treasured Blue Boxes.

2023

LVMH, PREMIUM PARTNER OF THE OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC GAMES PARIS 2024This planetary event echoes the Group's vocation, The Art of Crafting Dreams. As a creative partner of these Games, LVMH will play a major role by sharing the excellence and skills of its craftsmen for key celebratory moments during the Olympic & Paralympic Games Paris 2024. This unprecedented partnership will celebrate France and its exceptional savoir-faire on the global stage.