Rihanna Is The First Black Woman to Lead Global Luxury Brand

We couldn’t believe Rihanna wasn’t at the Met Gala this year to bless us with her almighty perfection. But turns out she’s onto bigger and better things. Our Riri is launching a luxury Parisian fashion house in partnership with LVMH, confirming rumours back in January that she was readying a high-profile fashion project.

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, also known as LVMH, is the largest luxury group in the world. It is the parent company to world-renowned prestigious fashion brands such as Celine, Dior, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, and Bulgari; as well as wines and spirits brands like Moët & Chandon, Hennessy, and Dom Pérignon.

After months of hype and speculation, Rihanna’s fashion venture with LVMH is finally coming to life. Fenty is the first new fashion house that LVMH created in more than 30 years. The company said in a statement today that Fenty will be “centred on Rihanna, developed by her, and takes shape with her vision in terms of ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories.” Owning 49.99% of the shares, Rihanna will become the first woman to create an original label at LVMH, AND the first woman of colour at the top of an LVMH maison at only 31 years old!

In the recent years, the French luxury giant has been making efforts toward racial and gender balance in the industry. They named Virgil Abloh as Louis Vuitton’s first black Men’s Artistic Director in 2018. They also appointed Dior and Givenchy’s first female designers in 2016 and 2017 respectively. On the other hand, Rihanna’s cosmetics brand Fenty Beauty and lingerie line Savage X Fenty have promoted inclusivity and diversity regarding size, race, and gender identity.

Fenty Maison will show its first collection on May 22. You can sign up for Fenty’s newsletter before their official launch at www.fenty.com.