Assouline Publishing
Founded1994
FoundersMartine and Prosper Assouline
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters location3 Park Avenue, New York City
Publication typesBooks
Nonfiction topicsFashion, Travel, Design, Art, Architecture and Cuisine
Official websitewww.assouline.com

Assouline Publishing is a book publisher and luxury lifestyle company founded in 1994 by Prosper and Martine Assouline. It has published more than 1,700 titles on subjects including architecture, art, design, fashion, gastronomy, lifestyle, photography, and travel. Beginning in the 2010s the company has branched out to designing, producing, and selling furniture, accessories, and luxury gifts, and to creating bespoke furnished and accessorized libraries for individuals and hotels.

History

Martine and Prosper Assouline

The publishing house began as a family company in the basement of Martine and Prosper’s apartment in Paris.[1] One year later, the firm opened its first office on rue Danielle Casanova in Paris. The couple’s first published book was La Colombe d'Or (1994) which covers the history of their favorite hotel in the South of France, including photographs by Prosper and text by Martine.[2]

The company went on to establish its first book series in 1996 – the Memoire collection, which was composed of books focusing on individuals and companies in fashion, jewelry, design, and art. Initial publications included books on Alaïa, Chanel, Vionnet, and Dior. The collection was available in 10 different languages and has sold millions of copies worldwide.

In 2007, the company owners relocated to New York City, and that same year they began to partner with the Council of Fashion Designers of America.[3][4] In 2011 Prosper Assouline was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres[5] from the French Ministry of Culture for his work in publishing.[6] In 2012, Assouline produced a waterproof book on the subject of the South Pole,[7] as well as Gaia, a book of photos taken on the International Space Station by Guy Laliberté.[8] In 2016, the French Institute Alliance Française awarded the Assoulines with the Art de Vivre award for their publications.[9][10]

In 2013, LVMH acquired a minority stake in the company.[11] By 2020, Assouline had published more than 1,700 books.[11]

As of the 2020s, Assouline is known for its collections, including its extensive and colorful travel series,[12] its Handcrafted Ultimates collection,[13][14] its Classics collection,[15] and its signed limited editions such as the special edition of its book on Versailles.[12][16]

Martine and Prosper's son Alex has been at the company since 2014.[17] As of 2022 he is chief of operations, brand, and strategy.[18]

Boutiques and flagship stores

In 2003, Assouline opened a corner boutique in Bergdorf Goodman. The company opened its first standalone boutique in Paris in 2006.[19] Assouline has opened several flagship stores, including a London store entitled Maison Assouline that opened in 2014,[20] which includes a restaurant called the Swans Bar.[21] The company has subsequently opened numerous branded corners inside venues in Spain, Monaco, South Africa, Ukraine, Greece, Bolivia, Manila, and elsewhere.[22]

Luxury lifestyle brand

Since 2011 the company has also been building itself into a luxury lifestyle brand.[23] In addition to books, Maison Assouline in London sells furniture,[24] rare objects,[25] and luxury gifts,[26] and some of Assouline's stores in other locations do as well.[27]

In 2015, Assouline launched an "Haute Couture" furnishings collection called "Assouline Interiors."[28] Assouline also produces accessories,[20][19] bookbags, and bindery.[29]

Assouline has collaborated with global luxury brands including Zara,[30] Oliver Peoples,[31] and Gucci.[32]

The company also creates custom libraries for individuals and hotels[1] including interior design, furniture, vintage objects, and accessories.[33][34] In New York City they have designed private libraries and lounges in buildings including 432 Park, 550 Madison Avenue, The Caledonia, and The Shephard.[35][17]

References

  1. 1 2 Enters, Kate (April 3, 2016). "In Conversation with the Assoulines". WSJ.
  2. ↑ Blume, Lesley M. (January 1, 2012). "The World of Assouline". Slate.
  3. ↑ "American Fashion Review - Threads". Threads Magazine.
  4. ↑ "CFDA". CFDA.
  5. ↑ "Nomination ou promotion dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres janvier 2011". Ministere de la culture. February 22, 2011.
  6. ↑ Uhovski, Valentine (January 14, 2011). "Assouline Is Knighted". Wall Street Journal.
  7. ↑ "Assouline's New Waterproof Book: South Pole". Starrett Lehigh. February 18, 2012.
  8. ↑ Lala, Kisa (December 19, 2012). "The Founder of Cirque du Soleil - Guy Laliberté Returns from his Journey into Space with Plans to Change the World". Huffington Post.
  9. ↑ "Well-heeled Francophiles honor lifestyle publishers at Le Bilboquet". LL NYC. June 7, 2016.
  10. ↑ Staff, GDA (June 2, 2016). "Assouline Co-Founders Presented with Art de Vivre Award". Gifts and Decorative accessories.
  11. 1 2 Schneier, Matthew (March 6, 2020). "Judged By Their Covers: How the Assoulines made their name on books to be seen (and occasionally read)". The Cut. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Villa-Clarke, Angelina (January 25, 2021). "Page Turners: You Can Still Travel Thousands Of Miles With Assouline". Forbes. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  13. ↑ Cha, Frances (August 3, 2015). "Bookmark this! World's best bookstores". CNN. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  14. ↑ Devadanam, Steven (April 23, 2021). "Fab and fashionable crowd packs haute French bookstore's grand opening in River Oaks District". CultureMap Houston. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  15. ↑ Thiyagarajan, Darishini (September 8, 2022). "Louis Vuitton announces the launch of Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh book, published by Assouline". Esquire. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  16. ↑ Trilivas, Nicole (November 10, 2020). "This New Book On Versailles Costs $4,900 — But Includes A Private Tour". Forbes. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  17. 1 2 Clavarino, Elena (December 25, 2021). "Alexandre Assouline". Air Mail. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  18. ↑ Lasky, Julie (December 24, 2021). "How Many Books Does It Take to Make a Place Feel Like Home?". New York Times. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  19. 1 2 "Assouline Finds Upscale Niche". Publishers Weekly.
  20. 1 2 "Bound for glory". The Australian. July 2, 2015.
  21. ↑ "New chapter: Assouline launches London store-Telegraph". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014.
  22. ↑ Salonga, Bianca (February 8, 2022). "Newly-Appointed Assouline COO, Alex Assouline, Writes A New Chapter In Luxury Culture". Forbes. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  23. ↑ Sherman, Rebecca (September 9, 2016). "The Book People". Paper City. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  24. ↑ Seo, Juyoung (July 24, 2017). "Maison Assouline: London's Luxury Shop For Bibliophiles". Forbes. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Library of Luxe". Lonny. November 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Maison Assouline: defying conventions in a temple of good taste". The Week. March 27, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  27. ↑ Gillespie, Lane (April 26, 2021). "Retail Roundup: Luxe bookstore Assouline enters Houston; Louis Vuitton, Giorgio Armani, more open in Galleria". Houston Business Journal. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Assouline Interiors Celebrates A Touch of Style". High End Weekly. April 16, 2015.
  29. ↑ "MAISON ASSOULINE - Assouline". www.assouline.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  30. ↑ Sams, Lauren (June 7, 2022). "Why Luxury Publisher Assouline Is Shooting For The Moon". Financial Review. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  31. ↑ Medina, Marcy (November 30, 2018). "Oliver Peoples Fetes 'California as We See It' With Lisa Eisner". WWD. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  32. ↑ Anyanwu, Obi (November 28, 2016). "Gucci unveils limited edition Blind For Love book with Assouline". Fashion Network. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  33. ↑ Mitchell, Heidi (June 27, 2012). "A House to Look Smart In". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  34. ↑ Moore, Booth (January 27, 2022). "Alex Assouline on Bringing the Business of Fashion Books Into the Digital Era". WWD. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  35. ↑ Ellwood, Mark (October 26, 2016). "Behold, the house of the future". The New York Post.
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