Carolina Herrera

founded by

Carolina Herrera

belongs to

Puig Beauty

about

Carolina Herrera founded her company in 1981 with a clear vision for how an elegant and stylish woman should dress. She launched her fur collection in 1984 and her CH Collection (a more affordable line) in 1986. Her bridal line was launched in 1987, after she designed Caroline Kennedy's wedding gown. Her perfume lines followed in 1988. She has already brought out her Bridal collection for Spring 2003.

Today Carolina Herrera, Ltd. designs and manufactures a luxury ready to wear collection that addresses the needs of today's woman from daytime suits and dresses to elegant evening wear and luxury bridal gowns. Carolina Herrera has also made a great effort to address the fashion requirements of a younger woman, the new designer customer, and in doing so, Carolina Herrera has expanded her customer base. Modern fashion is moving away from stark minimalism to more luxurious, feminine embellishment. This is precisely what defines the Carolina Herrera design signature.

The Carolina Herrera name is also well known for fragrance. In a business marked by short product life spans, Carolina Herrera's fragrance brands continue to rank in the top ten fragrances worldwide.

Carolina Herrera has also expanded into the accessory business. A luxury handbag business was established in-house and today, Carolina Herrera designs, manufactures and distributes handbags, leather accessories, scarves, travel pieces and men's ties and belts. These products are showcased in exclusive U.S. stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue, the Carolina Herrera Boutique at Harrods in London, and the first flagship retail store is scheduled to open in Spring 2000 in New York.

The Barcelona, Spain, based company Puig Beauty and Fashion, is the majority shareholder in the Herrera house as well as the company's fragrance licensee. They have been successful in financing the house, as in the past 5 years the brand's worldwide retail sales have doubled to $400 million.

There are currently 2 "Carolina Herrera, New York" boutiques in the world. Her flagship is located on Madison Avenue in New York. The company recently opened its Los Angeles flagship on Melrose Place.

In 2005, Carolina Herrera launched a lifestyle brand called CH Carolina Herrera. In that year, the company opened four stores at Americana Manhasset, The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, The Houston Galleria and Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables, Florida. In 2006, the retailer will open a boutique in NorthPark Center in Dallas at the end of September.

The company is aggressively expanding this lifestyle brand, while avoiding major luxury retail corridors such as Madison Avenue, Michigan Avenue or Rodeo Drive and it anticipates to open more stores in 2007 in Austin and San Antonio in Texas; Orlando, Tampa and Palm Beach in Florida; San Diego; Phoenix, and eventually, Los Angeles