Jacqueline Riu Fashion Pioneer Dies at 91

Jacqueline Riu, the visionary founder of the eponymous fashion brand that would later evolve into Riu Paris, passed away on October 28 at the age of 91. Her remarkable career, spanning from the opening of her initial boutique to the brand's eventual sale to the Deveaux group in 2013, positioned her as both a driving force and a keen observer of the profound transformations within French fashion since the post-war era.

Born on January 21, 1934, Riu embarked on her professional journey by establishing "La Gaminerie," a franchised multi-brand shop located on Boulevard Saint-Germain. Her carefully curated selection featured prominent names such as Max Mara, Infinitif, Théorème, Georges Rech, and Cathy Mini. During this formative period, she pioneered a retail strategy characterized by frequent range refreshes, more accessible pricing, and rigorous stock management, laying the groundwork for her future success.

This innovative approach was fully realized in 1971 with the grand opening of the first shop bearing her own name, situated in Thiais within the then-novel Belle-Épine shopping centre. Alongside her husband, Michel Riu, she shrewdly leveraged the rapid development of shopping centres across France to popularize her collections. These collections were produced through a diversified global network, extending from the Maghreb and Turkey to Eastern Europe and Asia, reflecting an early commitment to international sourcing. Her daughters, Sabine Chiche and Véronique Jouary, aptly noted that "Jacqueline Riu is a witness to the transformation of retail, from multi-brand shops to accessible fashion chains, integrating product design teams and diversifying production sources around the world according to the expertise developed by each country."

In 1999, both Sabine Chiche and Véronique Jouary officially joined their mother at the company, coinciding with the establishment of a management board and a supervisory board. This period marked a significant expansion phase for the brand, as its store count grew substantially from 60 to 250 locations. The company also ventured into international markets, notably through the creation of a subsidiary in Poland and the successful development of franchise operations in Saudi Arabia and Réunion.

By June 2013, the flourishing company boasted 2,000 employees, operated 220 stores, and generated an impressive €120 million in revenue. It was at this juncture that the business was acquired by the Armand Thierry chain, a part of the Deveaux group, with the strategic aim of positioning it as the cornerstone of a leading French ready-to-wear conglomerate. In 2016, a portion of the network was rebranded as Riu Paris. While the company maintains a discreet public profile, it is currently estimated to operate around a hundred locations across France, complemented by an active online shop. To this day, the brand steadfastly upholds its founder’s original vision of accessibility, continuing to offer creative pieces in sizes 36 to 48 and maintaining its distinctive mid-market positioning.