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Repossi

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Repossi S.A.S.
IndustryLuxury goods
Founded1957; 67 years ago (1957) in Turin, Italy
FounderCostantino Repossi
HeadquartersParis, France
Key people
Costantino Repossi, Alberto Repossi, Gaia Repossi (Creative Director)
Productsjewellery
OwnerLVMH (68%)
Websiterepossi.com

Repossi is an Italian jewelry house founded in 1957 in Turin by Costantino Repossi, a family-owned business now run by the third generation of the Repossi family. The luxury group LVMH is a majority shareholder since 2018.[1]

History

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After studying industrial design, Costantino Repossi took over the Italian workshops of his father during the post-war period. He opened the first eponymous boutique in Turin in 1957. In 1974 the founder's son, Alberto Repossi, took over the direction of the business.[2] He moved to Monte-Carlo where he opened his first boutique in 1979. A sescond shop opened in Paris in 1986, at 6 Place Vendôme.[3]

Following the death of Princess Diana in 1997, Repossi made headlines due to claims that Dodi Fayed had purchased a ring from the Paris store, in order to propose to Diana.[4] According to an executive of the Ritz Hotel, when the couple bought a ring together at the Repossi store, Fayed picked the cheapest ring in the "Dis-moi Oui" collection, thus disputing the claims that it was a proposition ring (despite the collection's explicit name).[5] The footage of Fayed picking the ring in Paris was released in 2007.[6]

In 2007, Gaia Repossi, daughter of Alberto, became the creative director of the brand, making her the first member of the third generation of the Repossi family to take over the company.[7][8] She reinvented many aspects of the brand, bidding goodbye to opulent designs and excessive coloring, preferring minimalist yet sculptural pieces. New patented techniques have been developed, such as the "serti sur vide", a process to make a diamond "float".[9]

In 2015, a partnership with luxury conglomerate LVMH was announced through which LVMH acquired a minority share in the fine jewelry house.[10][11][12] In 2016, Repossi's Paris flagship store, located on historical Place Vendôme, re-opened after the redesigning by Dutch avant-garde architect Rem Koolhaas and his OMA practice.[13][14] In April 2018, LVMH increased its ownership to 68%, thus becoming majority shareholder of Repossi.[1] A few months later, the company opened its third store overall, and its first standalone store in the Middle East, in the Dubai Mall.[15] In 2021, the designer Flavin Judd redesigned the Monaco store.[16]

Style

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Repossi's designs are said to be modern and minimal.[17] The brand collaborates with contemporary artist Vivian Sassen.[18] Collection presentations were held at the Gagosian Gallery in LeBourget.[19]

In 2013, Gaia Repossi won the "Best jewelry designer of the Year" award at the Elle Style Awards.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b "LVMH Takes Majority Stake in Repossi". The Business of Fashion. 2019-05-22. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  2. ^ Tindle, Hannah (10 March 2017). "Gaia Repossi: Taking Fine Jewellery to Architectural Heights". Another Magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  3. ^ Izabela, Anna. "OMA introduces Repossi's modern vision of jewellery to Place Vendome". FRAME Magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  4. ^ Swardson, Anne (9 September 1997). "Diana Helped Choose Ring". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  5. ^ "Hotel exec: Diana 'engagement ring' invented". NBC News. 2007-12-06. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  6. ^ Truscott, Claire (2007-10-18). "Diana inquest views Fayed jeweller footage". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  7. ^ Bourke, Joanna (December 2015). "LVMH set new gold standard for Repossi". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  8. ^ Tindle, Hannah (10 March 2017). "Gaia Repossi: Taking Fine Jewellery to Architectural Heights". AnOther. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  9. ^ Assor, Constance (2023-09-09). "Repossi, l'épicentre de la joaillerie moderne". Le Point (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  10. ^ Rose, Michel (30 November 2015). "LVMH buys minority stake in Italian jeweler Repossi". Reuters. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  11. ^ "LVMH to Take Stake in Repossi". The Business of Fashion. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  12. ^ Friedman, Vanessa (30 November 2015). "LVMH Move on Repossi Reveals Influence of Delphine Arnault". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  13. ^ Woo, Kin (5 August 2016). "The Most Stunning New Store in Paris's Haute Jewelry Mecca". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  14. ^ Royce-Greensill, Sarah (21 October 2016). "How Gaia Repossi repositioned her family's jewellery firm". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  15. ^ Halliday, Sandra (17 July 2018). "Repossi opens first Middle East standalone in Dubai". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  16. ^ Reddinger, Paige (2021-02-10). "How Designer Flavin Judd Turned Repossi's Monaco Store Into a Minimalist Masterpiece". Robb Report. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  17. ^ Izabela, Anna. "OMA introduces Repossi's modern vision of jewellery to Place Vendome". FRAME Magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  18. ^ Hope Allwood, Emma (11 September 2016). "The woman behind fashion's favourite jewellery". DAZED. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  19. ^ Diderich, Joelle (5 March 2016). "Repossi to Unveil Agrafe Collection at Gallery Gagosian". WWD. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  20. ^ Millar, Leisa (11 February 2013). "Gaia Repossi wins best Jewellery Designer". Elle Magazine UK www.elleuk.com. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
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