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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.[citation needed]

History

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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.[citation needed]

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] Alex has spoken on the future of the brand, taking the publisher into the digital age,[19] as well as expanding into product development,[20] and library curation interior design.[21]

Boutiques and flagship stores

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In 2003, Assouline opened a corner boutique in the Bergdorf Goodman Building. The company opened its first standalone boutique in Paris in 2006.[22]

The company has subsequently opened branded corners inside different locations around the world, including Madrid and Sydney.[23]  Assouline also operates retail locations in various cities including Bal Harbour, Florida,[24] Houston, Texas[25] and Mexico City,[26] as well as its London flagship store, Maison Assouline,[27] that opened in 2014, featuring the Swans Bar.[28]

In 2024, Assouline opened a boutique on Madison Avenue in New York.[29]

Luxury lifestyle brand

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Since 2011 the company has also been building itself into a luxury lifestyle brand.[30] In addition to books, Maison Assouline in London sells furniture,[31] rare objects,[32] and luxury gifts,[33] and some of Assouline's stores in other locations do as well.[34]

In 2015, Assouline launched an "Haute Couture" furnishings collection called "Assouline Interiors."[35] Assouline also produces accessories,[36][22] bookbags, and bindery.[37]

Assouline has collaborated with global luxury brands including Zara,[38] Oliver Peoples,[39] and Gucci.[40] With recent titles, the publisher has worked with numerous brands, including Louis Vuitton,[41] Dior,[42] Rolex,[43] Patek Philippe,[44] Formula 1,[45] James Bond,[46] and Barbie.[47]

The company also creates custom libraries for individuals and hotels[1] including interior design, furniture, vintage objects, and accessories.[48][49] In New York City they have designed private libraries and lounges in buildings including 432 Park, 550 Madison Avenue, The Caledonia, and The Shephard.[50][17]

In 2023, Assouline launched line of scented candles in collaboration with perfumer Jérôme Epinette.[51] The line featured scents evoking Mykonos, Marrakech, Tulum, Ibiza, Gstaad and Moon.[52]

In early 2024, Assouline introduced brand’s signature color, Assouline Red, which was officially recognized by color expert Pantone.[53]

Activism

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Since 2019, Assouline has partnered with One Tree Planted to grow one tree for each book sold, with the eventual goal of creating a sustainable cycle, producing books from trees planted specifically for the publisher.[54][55]

During the Maui Wildfires in 2023, the brand announced that 100% of sales of the book would go towards relief for locals affected by the fires through the end of the year.[56]

References

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  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ Moore, Booth (January 27, 2022). "Alex Assouline on Bringing the Business of Fashion Books Into the Digital Era". WWD. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  20. ^ Moin, David (June 12, 2024). "After 30 Years in Business, Assouline Plots Retail Expansion — Including on Madison Avenue". WWD. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  21. ^ "Why luxury publisher Assouline is shooting for the moon". Australian Financial Review. June 6, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Assouline Finds Upscale Niche". Publishers Weekly.
  23. ^ "Assouline cements New York roots with new store". fashionnetwork.
  24. ^ Moin, David (June 12, 2024). "After 30 Years in Business, Assouline Plots Retail Expansion — Including on Madison Avenue". WWD. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  25. ^ "Assouline-opens-first-Southwest-store". houstonchronicle.
  26. ^ Moin, David (June 12, 2024). "After 30 Years in Business, Assouline Plots Retail Expansion — Including on Madison Avenue". WWD. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  27. ^ Hojnicki, Carrie (October 1, 2014). "Assouline Opens a Flagship Shop in London". Architectural Digest. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  28. ^ "New chapter: Assouline launches London store-Telegraph". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014.
  29. ^ Moin, David (June 12, 2024). "After 30 Years in Business, Assouline Plots Retail Expansion — Including on Madison Avenue". WWD. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  30. ^ Sherman, Rebecca (September 9, 2016). "The Book People". Paper City. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  31. ^ Seo, Juyoung (July 24, 2017). "Maison Assouline: London's Luxury Shop For Bibliophiles". Forbes. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  32. ^ "Library of Luxe". Lonny. November 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  33. ^ "Maison Assouline: defying conventions in a temple of good taste". The Week. March 27, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ "Assouline Interiors Celebrates A Touch of Style". High End Weekly. April 16, 2015.
  36. ^ "Bound for glory". The Australian. July 2, 2015.
  37. ^ "MAISON ASSOULINE - Assouline". www.assouline.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  38. ^ Sams, Lauren (June 7, 2022). "Why Luxury Publisher Assouline Is Shooting For The Moon". Financial Review. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  39. ^ Medina, Marcy (November 30, 2018). "Oliver Peoples Fetes 'California as We See It' With Lisa Eisner". WWD. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  40. ^ Anyanwu, Obi (November 28, 2016). "Gucci unveils limited edition Blind For Love book with Assouline". Fashion Network. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  41. ^ "Louis Vuitton Explores the Architecture of Luxury in Its New Book, 'Skin'". Hypebae. April 19, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  42. ^ Diderich, Joelle (May 16, 2023). "New Dior Book Chronicles the Raf Simons Years". WWD. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  43. ^ "This New Rolex Book is a Fascinating Look At Some of The Brand's Most Iconic Watches". Gear Patrol. December 4, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  44. ^ @thestyleguide1 (November 15, 2023). "Explore The World Of Patek Philippe With A New Coffee Table Book - Maxim". www.maxim.com. Retrieved September 5, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  45. ^ Mathew, Viju (May 25, 2021). "Assouline's New $995 Formula 1 Book Was 70 Years in the Making". Robb Report. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  46. ^ AI (October 5, 2023). "James Bond Destinations Book By Assouline". James Bond 007. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  47. ^ "the-barbicore-trend-continues". forbes.
  48. ^ Mitchell, Heidi (June 27, 2012). "A House to Look Smart In". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  49. ^ Moore, Booth (January 27, 2022). "Alex Assouline on Bringing the Business of Fashion Books Into the Digital Era". WWD. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  50. ^ Ellwood, Mark (October 26, 2016). "Behold, the house of the future". The New York Post.
  51. ^ Montanez, Abby (May 4, 2023). "Exclusive: Assouline Just Launched a Line of Candles Designed to Smell Like Vacation". Robb Report. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  52. ^ "Assouline's First Candle Collection Evokes the Memories of Travel". Hypebeast. May 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  53. ^ Templeton, Lily (February 1, 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: Assouline Marks 30th Anniversary With Signature Pantone Color". WWD. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  54. ^ "martine-assouline-arbiter". gothammag.
  55. ^ "Brand Guide: Assouline". IMBOLDN. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  56. ^ "100% of Net Proceeds from This Beautiful Coffee Table Book Go to Help Victims of Maui Wildfires". Veranda. September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
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