Nina Ricci

Nina Ricci is a French fashion house founded in Paris in 1932 by Maria "Nina" Ricci and her son Robert. The mother and son collaboration - unique in the history of couture - was an immediate success from the very first show. Maria Nielli was born in 1883 in Turin, Italy. At just 14 years old, she obtained a job as a seamstress, later marrying Luigi Ricci and becoming Nina Ricci. After becoming a widow at 27, she raised her son Robert singlehandedly while working at the House of Raffin for 24 years. In 1932, at age 49, she took the bold step of opening her own couture house with Robert. Nina Ricci designed gowns while Robert managed the business and finances. She worked directly on the model, designing by draping actual fabric to understand what each dress would become. Her philosophy was that creating clothes meant achieving maximum ease and lightness that didn't encumber the wearer when moving or dancing. The brand quickly became known for romantic, feminine designs and elegant silhouettes. In 1941, Robert Ricci created an in-house perfume division, leading to Nina Ricci's most famous creation - L'Air du Temps, launched in 1948. This legendary fragrance, with its iconic dove bottle, remains one of the world's most beloved perfumes. Now owned by Spanish beauty and fashion group Puig since 1998, Nina Ricci continues its legacy of romantic femininity. In 2022, London-based designer Harris Reed, known for gender-fluid designs, was appointed Creative Director, bringing fresh perspective to this storied house.