On June 25, California-based online retailer Revolve Group, Inc. announced that it had acquired a majority stake in French luxury couture house Alexandre Vauthier. Through this strategic acquisition, Revolve Group aims to strengthen its presence in the luxury fashion sector and offer its customers a more diverse product offering worldwide.
The brand was founded in 2009 by designer Alexandre Vauthier. Vauthier began his career as a designer at Thierry Mugler and then became the head designer of Jean Paul Gaultier’s haute couture department. Since launching his eponymous brand in 2009, Vauthier’s collections have been highly acclaimed for their bold silhouettes and innovative designs, and have become widely known among celebrities and fashion lovers alike. The brand has also been a regular participant in the Paris Haute Couture Week for over 10 years.
However, the brand was in an unfavorable business condition and had been suspended from payments since November 2023. The Revolve Group will invest six million euros over three years into the Alexandre Vauthier brand and make a contribution of freshly purchased assets to a newly formed business entity. Additional terms of the transaction, such as the sale price, were not disclosed.
“We are thrilled to partner with Alexandre Vauthier, a distinguished name in haute couture,” said Michael Mente, co-CEO of Revolve Group, “By integrating our impactful brand marketing strategies and operational excellence with Vauthier’s visionary designs, we are set to ignite a new era of fashion influence in luxury to build an iconic French maison.”
Alexandre Vauthier, the brand’s Creative Director, also added, “When I first met with the REVOLVE team, I immediately felt their understanding in growing a haute couture business for today’s consumer and a support for all the specialized techniques and effects necessary to conceptualize a collection in this very special corner of fashion, as well as to develop it into a high quality ready-to-wear and accessories offering every season. I look forward to this new chapter for my house with the added metier which REVOLVE offers.”
The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory approvals.