Rihanna to launch luxury fashion house with LVMH

Rihanna is officially launching her own luxury fashion house under LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the NYTimes can confirm.

While most details of this upcoming partnership are said to be unknown, the Grammy winner's new label would mark the first time LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault has launched an original new house since Christian Lacroix in 1987. Currently, the French conglomerate umbrellas Celine, Givenchy, Fendi, Emilio Pucci and more than 60 other iconic brands. This deal would also make Robyn Rihanna Fenty the first black female designer at LVMH.

Very few celebrities have made the lucrative transition to head high-end fashion labels. There's Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's The Row, Victoria Beckham's eponymous line and U2 frontman Bono co-founded the Kate Middelton-loving brand, EDUN in 2005, which eventually sold to LVMH in 2009 and sold back in 2018.

“Designing a line like this with LVMH is an incredibly special moment for us,” Rihanna said in a statement. “Mr. Arnault has given me a unique opportunity to develop a fashion house in the luxury sector, with no artistic limits. I couldn’t imagine a better partner both creatively and business-wise, and I’m ready for the world to see what we have built together.”

Speculation broke early this year in January surrounding the partnership after WWD reported "LVMH has already handpicked a clutch of employees from within, including some from Louis Vuitton and Celine, to work on the project in tandem with Rihanna."

The upcoming collection will include ready-to-wear, leather goods and might be released to coincide with her ninth album.

The "Love on the Brain" singer might have several fashion collaborations under her belt (Armani, River Island), however the success of her Fenty Puma line has exceeded all expectations of a celebrity branded partnership.

“Everybody knows Rihanna as a wonderful singer, but through our partnership at Fenty Beauty, I discovered a true entrepreneur, a real CEO and a terrific leader,” said Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH. “She naturally finds her full place within LVMH. To support Rihanna to start up the Fenty maison, we have built a talented and multicultural team supported by the group resources. I am proud that LVMH is leading this venture and wish it will be a great success.”

The 30-year-old Barbadian born singer is no stranger to the influence of fashion. In 2014, she won the CFDA Fashion Icon award where she famously wore a naked dress made from 216,000 Swarovski crystal with a matching head piece by Adam Selman.