Who Owns Berluti?
Berluti is owned by LVMH, the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate. The Italian luxury menswear brand was acquired by LVMH in 1993 and operates as a wholly-owned division within the Fashion & Leather Goods segment. LVMH is publicly traded on Euronext Paris.
Parent Company
LVMH
Acquired
1993
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Paris, France
Who Owns Berluti?
- Parent Company: LVMH
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 1993
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: Euronext Paris: MC
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Berluti | LVMH | Wholly owned |
History of Berluti
- Founded: 1895
- Founders: Paolo Berluti
- Acquired by LVMH: 1993
Berluti was founded in 1895 by Alessandro Berluti, an Italian shoemaker who established his workshop in Paris, France. Berluti had trained in the Italian shoemaking tradition before moving to Paris, where the demand for bespoke luxury footwear among the city's affluent clientele provided an opportunity to build a prestigious shoe business. The workshop's location in Paris, rather than in Italy, gave Berluti access to the French capital's luxury clientele and positioned the brand at the center of European luxury culture.
Alessandro Berluti's shoes quickly developed a reputation for exceptional quality, precise fit, and distinctive aesthetic. The brand's clients included some of the most prominent figures in European society, and Berluti developed a devoted following among men who regarded footwear as the most important element of a refined wardrobe.
The brand passed through several generations of the Berluti family, with each generation maintaining the commitment to handcrafted quality and bespoke service that had defined the house from its founding. The most significant figure in the brand's 20th-century history was Olga Berluti, who joined the family business and became one of the most influential figures in luxury footwear. Olga Berluti developed and refined the patina technique that became Berluti's most distinctive and celebrated craft innovation.
The Berluti patina technique involves applying multiple layers of color to the leather of finished shoes using a process that Olga Berluti developed over decades. The technique produces a depth of color and luminosity that cannot be achieved through conventional dyeing methods, and each pair of patinated Berluti shoes is unique. The patina technique became Berluti's signature craft innovation and one of the most recognized elements of the brand's identity, distinguishing Berluti shoes from all other luxury footwear.
Olga Berluti also established the Swann Club, an exclusive club for Berluti clients that held events including moonlight polishing sessions where members would polish their Berluti shoes together. The Swann Club, named after Marcel Proust's character Charles Swann, reinforced Berluti's positioning as a brand for the most cultivated and discerning luxury consumers and created a community around the brand that was unusual in the luxury footwear industry.
LVMH acquired Berluti in 1993, providing the house with the financial resources and global distribution infrastructure to expand beyond its traditional Parisian clientele. Under LVMH ownership, Berluti opened boutiques in major cities worldwide and developed its retail presence significantly.
In 2011, LVMH made a significant strategic decision to expand Berluti from a footwear-only brand into a full men's ready-to-wear and accessories brand. Alessandro Sartori was appointed as artistic director to develop the men's clothing and accessories collections, transforming Berluti into a comprehensive luxury menswear house. The expansion into ready-to-wear was a significant undertaking, as it required developing design, manufacturing, and retail capabilities for clothing while maintaining the footwear heritage that defined the brand.
The menswear expansion positioned Berluti as a competitor in the ultra-luxury men's fashion segment alongside Brioni (Kering), Kiton, and other prestigious men's tailoring and ready-to-wear brands. Haider Ackermann subsequently served as creative director, followed by Kris Van Assche, each bringing a distinct creative vision to the brand's clothing collections while maintaining the footwear heritage.
About LVMH
LVMH operates through five distinct business segments that together create the world's most comprehensive luxury goods portfolio. In the first half of 2025, the company recorded revenue of €39.8 billion with profit from recurring operations of €9 billion, demonstrating solid performance despite challenging global economic and geopolitical conditions. LVMH employs approximately 186,000 people globally and maintains a portfolio of over 75 prestigious luxury brands serving affluent consumers worldwide.
Fashion & Leather Goods represents LVMH's largest business segment, generating €19.1 billion in H1 2025 revenue. This segment includes iconic brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Fendi, Celine, Givenchy, and Loewe. Despite a 7% decline in organic revenue, the segment maintained very high operating margins, reflecting the enduring strength and pricing power of LVMH's core fashion and leather goods brands. Louis Vuitton continued to demonstrate powerful creativity through continuously reinvented iconic products and unique customer experiences, including "The Louis," a museum-like space in Shanghai designed as a cruise ship that epitomizes the brand's innovative spirit.
Wines & Spirits generated €2.6 billion in H1 2025 revenue, experiencing an 8% decline in organic growth. This segment includes prestigious champagne and spirits brands such as Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, Krug, and Hennessy. The segment faced ongoing weak demand for cognac, though champagne showed improvement in trends during the second quarter of 2025. Despite revenue pressure, the wines and spirits brands maintained their premium positioning and continued to invest in product innovation and heritage preservation.
Perfumes & Cosmetics achieved €4.1 billion in H1 2025 revenue, remaining stable on an organic basis. This segment demonstrated remarkable innovation and ongoing selective retail approaches, with successful launches including La Beauté Louis Vuitton, a new creative universe led by Dame Pat McGrath. The cosmetics and perfumes segment benefited from strong brand recognition and continued investment in product development, sustainability initiatives, and digital marketing capabilities.
Watches & Jewelry recorded €5.1 billion in H1 2025 revenue, remaining stable organically. This segment includes prestigious brands such as Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith. The segment benefited from the success of iconic lines and Tiffany & Co.'s renovated stores, which enhanced customer experience and brand presentation. The watches and jewelry brands maintained their focus on craftsmanship excellence, heritage preservation, and innovation in design and technology.
Selective Retailing generated €8.6 billion in H1 2025 revenue, achieving 2% organic growth. This segment includes Sephora, DFS (duty-free retail), and Le Bon Marché department store. Sephora continued to achieve growth in both revenue and profit, demonstrating strong performance in the competitive beauty retail market. The selective retailing segment benefited from improved local customer demand and effective digital transformation initiatives.
LVMH's corporate structure emphasizes brand-level management maintaining independent identities while benefiting from group resources and expertise. Each brand operates with significant autonomy, preserving its unique heritage and creative direction while accessing LVMH's shared resources in manufacturing, distribution, marketing, and technology. This structure enables brands to maintain authenticity and craftsmanship excellence while leveraging group-level scale and efficiency.
The company invests significantly in brand positioning, digital channels, and customer experience enhancement across all segments. LVMH has embraced digital transformation while maintaining the exclusivity and personal service that define luxury retail. The company's e-commerce platforms, digital marketing initiatives, and customer relationship management systems complement physical retail experiences and enhance brand engagement.
LVMH's supply chain emphasizes craftsmanship quality and heritage production supporting luxury positioning. The company maintains significant manufacturing facilities in France and Italy, preserving traditional artisanal skills and production techniques while investing in modern technology and sustainability practices. This commitment to quality and authenticity underpins LVMH's brand equity and customer trust.
Financial highlights from H1 2025 demonstrate LVMH's resilience and strategic discipline. The company achieved an operating margin of 22.6% and generated operating free cash flow of €4 billion, representing a 29% increase compared to the previous year. Net financial debt decreased by 16% to €10.2 billion, reflecting strong cash generation and prudent financial management.
- Founded: 1987
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: Euronext Paris: MC
Where Is Berluti Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Manufacturing / Operations: Italy, France
Brands Owned by LVMH
- Acqua di Parma - Italian luxury fragrance brand known for sophisticated scents and Italian elegan...
- Benefit Cosmetics - American beauty brand known for playful makeup products and eyebrow expertise, o...
- Bulgari - Italian luxury jewelry and watch brand renowned for bold designs and precious ge...
- Celine - French luxury fashion house specializing in leather goods, ready-to-wear, and ac...
- Château d'Yquem - French wine estate renowned for exceptional Sauternes and sweet wines, owned by ...
- Chaumet - French luxury jewelry brand renowned for tiaras and romantic pieces with imperia...
- Dior - French luxury fashion house founded in 1946 by Christian Dior, owned by LVMH and...
- Dom Pérignon - Prestigious French champagne brand known for vintage cuvées and exceptional qual...
- Fendi - Italian luxury fashion house known for leather goods, haute couture, and innovat...
- Fenty Beauty - Modern luxury beauty brand by Rihanna known for inclusive makeup and innovative ...
- Fred - French luxury jewelry brand known for contemporary elegance and classic savoir-f...
- Givenchy - French luxury fashion house known for haute couture, ready-to-wear, and beauty p...
- Guerlain - French luxury perfume and cosmetics brand renowned for iconic fragrances since 1...
- Hennessy - French cognac brand renowned for exceptional quality and global prestige, owned ...
- Hublot - Swiss luxury watch brand known for innovative designs and bold aesthetics, owned...
- Kenzo - Japanese-French luxury fashion house known for bold colors and innovative design...
- Krug - French champagne house known for complex, vintage-free cuvées and connoisseur ap...
- Le Bon Marché - French luxury department store known for Parisian elegance and curated retail ex...
- Loewe - Spanish luxury fashion house renowned for artisanal leatherwork and avant-garde ...
- Louis Vuitton - French luxury fashion house and brand, part of the LVMH group....
- Moët & Chandon - French champagne house renowned for prestigious cuvées and global recognition, o...
- Rimowa - German luxury luggage and travel goods brand known for innovative aluminum suitc...
- Sephora - Prestige beauty retailer and cosmetics brand owned by LVMH....
- Zenith - Swiss luxury watch manufacturer renowned for the legendary El Primero movement, ...
Berluti Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Over 130 years of heritage in luxury men's footwear, with the patina technique providing a craft innovation that no competitor can replicate
- +The Swann Club and the brand's cultivated clientele create a community of devoted customers with exceptionally high brand loyalty
- +LVMH's global retail infrastructure and financial resources support Berluti's boutique network expansion and the ongoing development of the menswear collections
- +The 2011 expansion into full menswear collections has increased Berluti's addressable market beyond footwear while maintaining the footwear heritage that defines the brand
- +Positioning as the only LVMH brand focused exclusively on the ultra-luxury men's market provides a clear and differentiated role within the group's portfolio
Considerations
- -Ultra-premium pricing, particularly for bespoke and patinated footwear, limits the addressable consumer base to the highest tier of luxury consumers
- -The expansion into menswear has increased competitive complexity, requiring Berluti to compete against established tailoring houses and luxury ready-to-wear brands in addition to footwear competitors
- -The brand's exclusive focus on men's products limits its total addressable market compared to brands that serve both men and women
- -Dependence on LVMH's strategic priorities means Berluti's investment levels are determined at the group level, competing with Louis Vuitton, Dior, and other major brands for resources
- -The patina technique requires highly skilled artisans, creating a production capacity constraint that limits the brand's ability to scale
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