Rimowa moves to new, bigger Parisian headquarters

Rimowa is thinking big. The German high-end luggage producer, bought by LVMH in 2016 for €640 million, has moved to bigger premises in central Paris. Rimowa’s new headquarters are located at 11 rue d’Argenson, in the 8th arrondissement, as the brand itself told FashionNetwork.com, not far from the 73 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré address where Rimowa was based following its acquisition by LVMH.

The Haussmann-designed, 2,500-square-metre rue d’Argenson building was previously occupied by French optics group Alain Afflelou, which moved out to the Défense district last year. It extends over five floors, each with about 50 workstations, and will be home to the department managing Rimowa’s international stores, currently over 150 addresses worldwide.

Rimowa was founded in Cologne in 1898, and assumed its current name in 1931. It still produces part of its product range in Germany, and became successful through its line of aluminium suitcases. Following the acquisition by LVMH, Rimowa has adopted an even more upmarket positioning. It has transformed its functional products in luxury accessories and diversified its range, introducing new lines, materials and luggage types, as well as launching line extensions, like eyewear.

Rimowa has notably boosted its visibility by dropping several collaborations, with Supreme, Off-White, and with LVMH labels like Dior and Tiffany & Co. In parallel, it has shifted its advertising strategy to a higher gear, signing up top global athletes like French footballer Kylian Mbappé.

When Rimowa was bought by LVMH, it appointed as CEO Alexandre Arnault, who remained in charge until 2021, when he left to become executive vice-president products and communication at Tiffany & Co. Rimowa is now spearheaded by Hugues Bonnet-Masimbert.