There are brands that have existed for decades and owe their longevity to the work and consistency of several generations of heirs. While some of them have been integrated into major fashion groups over the years, others have been run by the same family for many years. FashionUnited introduces you to six brands that were or are being run by the children and grandchildren of their founders.
death’s
The history of the company has its origins in the 1920s, when the Italian shoemaker Filippo Della Valle started making small batches of handmade leather shoes in his shoe factory. In 1978 his grandson Diego Della Valle joined the family business and founded the company Tod’s, which in the following years became famous for its top model – moccasins with a nubbed sole. By developing a good marketing strategy, he managed to spread brand awareness while maintaining the craftsmanship. Over the years, the company has expanded with the creation of the shoe brand Hogan and the acquisition of the French label Roger Vivier. In the first quarter of 2022, Tod’s Group reported sales of €219.6 million, up 23 percent year-on-year.
Millet Mountain Group
The traditional French company Millet specializes in outdoor clothing and was founded in 1921 by Marc and Hermance Millet. In the beginning, the couple only made shopping bags and lunch bags for the customers of their grocery store near Lyon. When her husband died in 1937, Hermance continued the adventure with her sons Raymond and René, who also took over the management of the family business from 1945. In the meantime, the brand expanded its range to include backpacks for mountaineers, and in 1970 high-altitude, hiking and ski clothing was added. After the managing directors retired, the brand became part of the French outdoor outfitter Lafuma and later the Swiss clothing group Calida. In 2022, Millet returned to the bosom of the founding family: Jean-Pierre Millet, the founder’s grandson, bought back the brand with the support of Inspiring Sport Capital, a private equity firm specializing in sports.
Sin-Rejac
Sin-Rejac is a French manufacturer of personalized ribbons for luxury brands based in the metropolis of Lille. The Rejac company was founded in Paris in 1946 by Jacques Hurfin, while the Sin company was founded in 1947 in northern France. The two companies merged in the 1980s and Jacques Hurfin became managing director and majority shareholder, while the remaining shares were divided among his sons and business partners. Hurfin’s sons continue to run the company, which produces an average of 40 million meters of personalized gift ribbons each year. Sin-Rejac has forty years of expertise working with prestigious clients including Hermès, Dior, Chanel, Cartier, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Bentley and Ferrari.
Lion
In 1846, Enrique Loewe Roessberg founded a cooperative of leather goods manufacturers, to which he gave his name. Born in Germany, he moved to Spain to expand his workshop and produce leather goods. Loewe was soon successful and the founder opened boutiques all over Spain. Loewe quickly developed into a family company. Enrique Loewe Roessberg integrated his son and later his grandson Enrique Loewe Knappe into the company. The latter joined the family business in 1934 at the age of 24. Under his leadership, Loewe began its international expansion by opening stores in London in 1963 and in Japan ten years later. Loewe has been part of the LVMH Group since 1996. Enrique Loewe Knappe died in 2016 at the age of 103. He had managed the company for almost fifty years.
The Mulliez Family Association (AFM)
The Mulliez Family Association (AFM) is an association of numerous brands and retailers from a wide range of industries. The association, founded in 1955, champions the economic interests of the Mulliez family. When it was founded, the task was to secure the estate of Louis Mulliez, preserve his fortune and distribute it fairly among his eleven heirs. Today, the AFM has almost 800 members and the Mulliez family is one of the richest families in France. They own the retail chains Auchan, Kiabi, Décathlon and Pimkie, among others. In total, the family has over 130 brands, 700,000 employees and can post annual sales of around 100 billion euros.
fendi
The Italian fashion house Fendi was founded in Rome in 1925 by Adele and Edoardo Fendi and has been part of the French LVMH Group since 2001. In 1926, the couple opened their first boutique with an integrated workshop, which was specifically geared towards furs and leather goods – success came quickly. The label gained popularity when the couple’s daughters entered the family business. In 1965, the Fendi family hired young German designer Karl Lagerfeld as artistic director. Lagerfeld then designed the fashion house’s famous logo. In 1992, Silvia Venturini Fendi, the third generation, joined the family business and worked alongside Lagerfeld. She launched the more affordable Fendissime line and became the brand’s accessories and later menswear designer in 1994.
This post previously appeared on FashionUnited.fr. Translation and editing: Pia Schulz