Rihanna has a proven track-record as an entrepreneur and now she’s upped the levels in a major way.
Because, after months of murmurs, the star has announced the launch of the ‘Fenty’ fashion house with LVMH.
Full story below…
After seeing their first venture – cosmetics line Fenty Beauty – generate $500 million in sales in its first year, the entities have expanded their partnership.
Set to be unveiled in Paris on May 22nd, Fenty will be “centered on Rihanna, developed by her, and takes shape with her vision in terms of ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories, including commerciality and communication of the brand.”
The historic move is notable on many fronts, including that Fenty is the first fashion brand launched from the ground up by LVMH since Christian Lacroix was founded in 1987.
Furthermore, the Bajan belle will become the first woman to create an original brand at LVMH and the first woman of color at the top of an LVMH maison.
Speaking on the venture, Rih said:
big day for the culture. thank you Mr. Arnault for believing in this little girl from the left side of an island, and for giving me the opportunity to grow with you at @LVMH . This is proof that nothing is impossible. Glory be to God. ??
While in a more formal statement:
“Designing a line like this with LVMH is an incredibly special moment for us. Mr. Arnault has given me a unique opportunity to develop a fashion house in the luxury sector, with no artistic limits. I couldn’t imagine a better partner both creatively and business-wise, and I’m ready for the world to see what we have built together”
Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive of LVMH, added:
“Everybody knows Rihanna as a wonderful singer, but through our partnership at Fenty Beauty, I discovered a true entrepreneur, a real CEO and a terrific leader. She naturally finds her full place within LVMH. To support Rihanna to start up the Fenty Maison, we have built a talented and multicultural team supported by the Group resources. I am proud that LVMH is leading this venture and wish it will be a great success.”
Rih, who by way of a sizeable ownership % stands to make a fortune is said to be wholly committed to the venture and has committed almost £30 million of “in-kind” contributions to the venture. Translation? She’s ponying up £30 million worth of her time, her name and what she represents — while LVMH (who also have the likes of Givenchy and Celine under their umbrella) has put up £30 million in cash.
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Huge congrats to Runway RiRi! She’s making strides few would have foreseen and deserves all the kudos for it.
Sigh Rihanna is done with music. That Hassan he really changed her. Congratulations amazing to see her grow and break barriers in fashion. Kanye should have hit up Rihanna on how she did it. Bittersweet with so many musicians become more business than artists. Her, Beyonce, I think even lady gaga is launching something similar to Fenty beauty.
Unlike Kanye, Rihanna listened to customers needs. That’s why she is that successful. Kanye is just full of himself and thinks that everyone needs to buy his s***. Rihanna on the other hand made a product people demanded for and conquered a niche that wasn’t really existing before.
No shade but you can’t compare no other pop stars to Rihanna when it comes brand outside of music. Rihanna’s makeup and fashion brands are on a far higher tier than any of the other popstars. She is the only one I see having any kind real longevity in beauty and fashion.
It’s not a comparison each one of the stars I mentioned have massive brands respective to the audience they cater to. My point is artists are becoming more businesses than musicians. It’s not a competition because depending on what they do one will always succeed in something another can’t that’s normal in business.
I hope she owns a good percentage of this! It would suck if the brand was very successfully and she barely got money from it.
Rihanna doesn’t strike me as a push over. Trust and believe she’s calling the shots and making demands.
One contributed 30 mil in money the other one 30mil with ‘in kind’ value…so it’s safe that this is likely a 50/50 partnership
This is epic. People screaming “we want music” are dumb and shortsighted. She can do it all. Black Excellence! ✊?
Kudos to Rhianna! I’m anxious to see what the line will bring. And if it is truly successful, that would be so cool. Having said that, I do think the music is gonna fall off. Yes, she (or anybody) CAN do both but it remains to be seen if she can do both of them WELL. Based on recent history, it appears that she is giving much more energy to the fashion/beauty arena (which I’m not mad about)…
As it should. I think over time the music should drizzle down and make room for new talent. I hate to see legends like Janet and Mariah out here still struggle for relevancy in music when they too should be doing big things.
Slow your roll, dear. Janet and Mariah are established Icons who never have to sell makeup & clothes to struggle for relevancy. Yes, Rihanna is doing big things with fashion & beauty but that was just a dumb comment.
This is stupid. No one who actually has talent in their field feels obligated to jump into an entire new industry just to be relevant. And they don’t need to excuse themselves from their jobs to “make room” for new talent. Janet and Mariah are living legends who are probably feeding their passions out of pure boredom at this point. They’ve been there, done that, and then some.
All of y’all sound dumb. Rihanna isn’t growing in other industries for relevancy. It’s called being a mogul. No one says anything about Jay and Puffy who brings in the majority of their riches from endeavors outside of music. It’s smart, it’s growing wealth for their children’s children.
I’m not saying Janet and Mariah isn’t legend but I still think it’s sad to see them struggling with music. Like let it go, your a whole legend…do something else.
I understand what u mean. Regardless of Janet Andy mariah’s Iconic place I music they aren’t selling like they used to and have no other fields really! They’d aren what they used to be
Um… Nobody… said Rihanna was doing anything for relevancy?? But you specifically suggested that Janet and Mariah *should*. It was a stupid comment. Because they don’t need to inject themselves into an industry they don’t care about to make themselves seem relevant to you anymore. That’s what happens when you get to a point in your career where you have nothing left to prove. And when your place in music is solidified, validation from chart success is unnecessary, especially when you see how much of a joke the charts are these days anyways. A lot of the time, if you want to top them, as bad as music tastes are now, you have to sacrifice the quality of your music, and thank God the divas are too good to do that.
I don’t think we realize how big this is. This is freaking major. They haven’t added a new brand in over 30 yrs. Fenty will be up there Fendi and Gucci.
lmao. lets not get carried away here.
LVHM launched Fenty because they think they can make it as successful as their top brands. Don’t be a dumb hater
Lmao, Um. This will def be a good business for her but unless she gets a creative director who actually has the experience and brilliance, I don’t see it. Let’s not forget that Fendi and Gucci were started by ACTUAL fashion designers. They were birthed out of mastery in craft manufacturing and fashion design and then they were leveraged into businesses. They were skilled artisans. Rihanna has become a fashion “icon” by wearing the artistry of other people. The same with her music. She was never the actual artist who wrote and created it. And I’m not saying you have to be an ancient, Italian, and formally trained legacy to be a valid luxury fashion brand, but Rihanna has never demonstrated any distinct or significant unique talent in FASHION DESIGN.
Just Eva use she didn’t create some of her music doesn’t mean she created none at all! Not many ppl create all of their music! Everything she has touched was a success which is why she went from collabs to her own luxury brand. Built a rep Andy was offered a partnership
Yeah, I’m sure she contributed in some capacity sis. But the point is, Rihanna isn’t a gifted songwriter. And she isn’t a uniquely gifted fashion designer either.
i feel u. and that’s completely your opinion but she has done extremely well in the fashion world to the point that she is creating a luxury line. someone with the gift and expertise in the industry that birthed other successful luxury lines believe in her enough to offer partnership says alot. lets just see before knocking her down before her debut. ppl didnt think she’d be successful in any venture that she ever did and she came out swing and conquering. sooo i feel very confident in her.,
That’s good. I know that in spite of these issues I see, it could very well end up being successful like you see it. ??♀️
Who would buy her trash? The name Rihanna doesnt scream luxury to.
Thos would be another celebrity clothing line that would fall off after 3 years.
its call diversify creating different revenue stream.build something you can pass to your kids.Unlike Mariah and Janet, Rihanna owns the masters to all her music.
you’re dealing with a Caribbean woman .They don’t know how to stop hustle.
Why are we bringing Janet and Mariah into this? Both of those ladies came into the business at a different time and made their mark. Plus, both have never been known to PUBLICIZE their every move. We don’t know what their investment portfolio looks like and Janet, in particular, has more than enough “legacy” in her last name to pass to her son let alone her personal accomplishment. Let us wish Fenty LVMH well but leave others out of it…