Repossi
{{Short description|Italian jewelry house}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Repossi S.A.S.
| logo =
| logo_size =
| type =
| traded_as =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1957}} in Turin, Italy
| founder = Costantino Repossi
| location = Paris, France
| key_people = Costantino Repossi, Alberto Repossi, Gaia Repossi (Creative Director)
| industry = Luxury goods
| products = jewellery
| owner = LVMH (68%)
| homepage = {{url|repossi.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.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-22 |title=LVMH Takes Majority Stake in Repossi |url=https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/lvmh-takes-majority-stake-in-repossi/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=The Business of Fashion |language=en}}
History
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.{{cite web|last1=Tindle|first1=Hannah|title=Gaia Repossi: Taking Fine Jewellery to Architectural Heights|url=http://www.anothermag.com/fashion-beauty/9626/gaia-repossi-taking-fine-jewellery-to-architectural-heights|website=Another Magazine|date=10 March 2017 |accessdate=21 June 2017}} He moved to Monte-Carlo where he opened his first boutique in 1979. A second shop opened in Paris in 1986, at 6 Place Vendôme.{{cite web |last1=Izabela |first1=Anna |title=OMA introduces Repossi's modern vision of jewellery to Place Vendome |url=http://www.frameweb.com/news/oma-introduces-repossi--s-modern-vision-of-jewellery-to-place-vendome?utm_source |accessdate=21 June 2017 |website=FRAME Magazine}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Swardson |first=Anne |date=9 September 1997 |title=Diana Helped Choose Ring |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/diana/stories/paris0909.htm |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=www.washingtonpost.com}} 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).{{cite web |date=2007-12-06 |title=Hotel exec: Diana 'engagement ring' invented |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22130473 |access-date=29 August 2022 |website=NBC News}} The footage of Fayed picking the ring in Paris was released in 2007.{{Cite news |last=Truscott |first=Claire |date=2007-10-18 |title=Diana inquest views Fayed jeweller footage |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/oct/18/monarchy |access-date=2024-06-26 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
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.{{cite web|last1=Bourke|first1=Joanna|title=LVMH set new gold standard for Repossi|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/lvmh-sets-new-gold-standard-for-repossi-a6755296.html|website=Independent.co.uk|date=December 2015 |accessdate=21 June 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Tindle|first1=Hannah|title=Gaia Repossi: Taking Fine Jewellery to Architectural Heights|url=http://www.anothermag.com/fashion-beauty/9626/gaia-repossi-taking-fine-jewellery-to-architectural-heights|website=AnOther|date=10 March 2017 |accessdate=21 June 2017}} 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".{{Cite web |last=Assor |first=Constance |date=2023-09-09 |title=Repossi, l'épicentre de la joaillerie moderne |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/mode-design/repossi-l-epicentre-de-la-joaillerie-moderne-09-09-2023-2534749_265.php |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Le Point |language=fr}}
In 2015, a partnership with luxury conglomerate LVMH was announced through which LVMH acquired a minority share in the fine jewelry house.{{cite news |last1=Rose |first1=Michel |date=30 November 2015 |title=LVMH buys minority stake in Italian jeweler Repossi |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-repossi-m-a-lvhm-idUSKBN0TJ1S120151130 |accessdate=10 April 2017 |website=Reuters}}{{cite web |title=LVMH to Take Stake in Repossi |url=https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/lvmh-takes-stake-in-repossi |accessdate=3 April 2017 |website=The Business of Fashion|date=30 November 2015 }}{{cite news |last1=Friedman |first1=Vanessa |date=30 November 2015 |title=LVMH Move on Repossi Reveals Influence of Delphine Arnault |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/30/fashion/lvmh-move-on-repossi-reveals-influence-of-delphine-arnault.html |accessdate=10 April 2017 |work=The New York Times}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Woo |first1=Kin |date=5 August 2016 |title=The Most Stunning New Store in Paris's Haute Jewelry Mecca |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/05/t-magazine/design/gaia-repossi-jewelry-store-paris.html |accessdate=3 April 2017 |work=The New York Times}}{{cite news |last1=Royce-Greensill |first1=Sarah |date=21 October 2016 |title=How Gaia Repossi repositioned her family's jewellery firm |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/jewellery/how-gaia-repossi-repositioned-her-familys-jewellery-firm/ |accessdate=10 April 2017 |website=The Telegraph}} In April 2018, LVMH increased its ownership to 68%, thus becoming majority shareholder of Repossi. A few months later, the company opened its third store overall, and its first standalone store in the Middle East, in the Dubai Mall.{{Cite web |last=Halliday |first=Sandra |date=17 July 2018 |title=Repossi opens first Middle East standalone in Dubai |url=https://us.fashionnetwork.com/news/repossi-opens-first-middle-east-standalone-in-dubai,998457.html |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=FashionNetwork.com |language=en-US}} In 2021, the designer Flavin Judd redesigned the Monaco store.{{Cite web |last=Reddinger |first=Paige |date=2021-02-10 |title=How Designer Flavin Judd Turned Repossi's Monaco Store Into a Minimalist Masterpiece |url=https://robbreport.com/style/jewelry/repossi-debuts-new-monaco-store-by-donald-judds-son-flavin-judd-1234596095/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Robb Report |language=en-US}}
Style
Repossi's designs are said to be modern and minimal.{{cite web |last1=Izabela |first1=Anna |title=OMA introduces Repossi's modern vision of jewellery to Place Vendome |url=http://www.frameweb.com/news/oma-introduces-repossi--s-modern-vision-of-jewellery-to-place-vendome |accessdate=21 June 2017 |website=FRAME Magazine}} The brand collaborates with contemporary artist Vivian Sassen.{{cite web|last1=Hope Allwood|first1=Emma|title=The woman behind fashion's favourite jewellery|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/32778/1/gaia-repossi-interview-2016-jewellery|website=DAZED|date=11 September 2016 |accessdate=21 June 2017}} Collection presentations were held at the Gagosian Gallery in LeBourget.{{cite web|last1=Diderich|first1=Joelle|title=Repossi to Unveil Agrafe Collection at Gallery Gagosian|url=http://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/repossi-presentation-gagosian-10382061-10382061/|website=WWD|date=5 March 2016 |accessdate=21 June 2017}}
In 2013, Gaia Repossi won the "Best jewelry designer of the Year" award at the Elle Style Awards.{{cite web|last1=Millar|first1=Leisa|title=Gaia Repossi wins best Jewellery Designer|url=http://www.elleuk.com/fashion/elle-style-awards/articles/a4374/gaia-repossi-wins-best-jewellery-designer-2013/|website= Elle Magazine UK www.elleuk.com|date=11 February 2013 |accessdate=3 April 2017}}