Industry Retail
Publishing Founded 1994 | Website www.assouline.com | |
Founder Martine & Prosper Assouline Headquarters 3 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016, New York City, United States Products Books, Special Editions, Furniture, Vintage Tomes, and Gifts Profiles | ||
Assouline Publishing is a luxury book publisher. It was founded in 1994 by Prosper and Martine Assouline. Since then, Assouline has published over 1,500 titles across international markets on subjects including architecture, art, design, fashion, gastronomy, lifestyle, photography and travel.
Contents
History
In 1994, Prosper and Martine Assouline published their first book, La Colombe d’Or, on the history of their favorite hotel in the South of France, with photographs by Prosper and text by Martine. They opened the first Assouline office in Paris in 1995, and in 1996 launched the Memoire collection of books focusing on noteworthy names in fashion, jewelry, design, and art. In 1999 Assouline opened an office in New York City.
Assouline has partnered with numerous luxury brands, including: Cartier, Chanel, Coach, Dior, Goyard, Louis Vuitton, MCM, and Valentino to create special editions and trunks. Assouline publishes many of its titles in both French and English.
In 1996, Prosper and Martine Assouline created the signature "Mémoire Collection".
In 2002, Assouline published Lee Radziwill’s memoir, Happy Times, which would become the template for the Lifetime collection, focusing on international destinations and style.
Since 2005, the Assouline accessories and gift line has expanded to include library decor items such as bookcases and book stands, trunks, stationery and leather goods, scented candles, special editions, and box sets.
In 2008, The "Impossible Collection", a limited-edition hand-bound luxury volume featuring hand-tipped-on images of twentieth-century fine art pieces.
In 2010, Assouline introduced the "Ultimate Collection" of hand-made books, based on the "Impossible Collection" oversize format, on cars, fashion, jewelry, and watches.
In 2012, Assouline produced a luxury waterproof book with South Pole.
In 2014, Assouline introduced a collection of embossed leather tote bags, the Didot book bag tote.
In 2015, Assouline launched a complete Haute Couture lifestyle furnishings collection, "Assouline Interiors", in London, New York and Paris.
Boutiques
In 2003, Assouline opened a corner on the seventh floor of Bergdorf Goodman, featuring a dedicated window on Fifth Avenue. Assouline opened its first standalone boutiques in Paris in 2003 and in New York City in the Plaza Hotel in 2008, debuting the signature Assouline decor concept. Assouline has continued to expand, adding a bespoke bindery at the Plaza Hotel with bookbinding expert Paul Vogel, plus more standalone and franchise boutiques in international markets, and branded corners in selected retail locations worldwide.
In 2006, Assouline opened its flagship boutique in Paris at 35 rue Bonaparte, located in the center of Saint Germain-des-Prés.
In 2010, the luxury publisher opened boutiques and corners in New York City at The Plaza Hotel and South Coast Plaza mall in Costa Mesa. It opened its first franchise with a boutique in Istanbul.
In 2012, the company expanded abroad with its first opening in the Asian market in Seoul, Korea. Assouline started partnerships with new boutiques: in the Middle East with the opening of the Istanbul boutique, and in Central and South America with the Mexico City and Lima boutique openings. The company started a collaboration with Le Bon Marché in Paris.
In 2014, Assouline opened a flagship store in London: Maison Assouline. The company launched its first showroom at the D&D building in New York to present its libraries and lounges.