Nina Ricci
Puig · France
Nina Ricci is a Parisian fashion and fragrance house founded in 1932 by Maria Nina Ricci and her son Robert. It has been owned by the Spanish beauty and fashion group Puig since 1998 and is best known for its fragrances, led by L'Air du Temps. Harris Reed was creative director from 2022 and is reported to have stepped down in March 2026.
| Founded | 1932 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Maria Nina Ricci and Robert Ricci |
| Owner | Puig, since 1998 |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Segment | Luxury and designer houses |
What is Nina Ricci?
Nina Ricci is a French luxury house covering fashion, accessories and perfume. Britannica describes it as equally acclaimed for its elegant haute couture and for its perfumes. Today the brand is part of Puig, the Spanish beauty and fashion group.
History
The house was founded in Paris in 1932 by Maria Nina Ricci and her son Robert. Robert Ricci created the perfume division in 1941, and L'Air du Temps, launched in 1948, became the brand's best-known fragrance. According to Wikipedia, the house also helped stage the 1945 Théâtre de la Mode exhibition in Paris, was an early pioneer of pattern licensing and designed several flight attendant uniforms.
Puig acquired the brand in 1998 as part of a strategy of buying prestigious labels. Puig completed its IPO on the Spanish Stock Exchange in May 2024 and its family kept majority voting control.
Products and positioning
Nina Ricci is positioned in the luxury segment and has historically covered ready-to-wear, perfumes, cosmetics, accessories, eyewear, jewellery and watches. Wikipedia reports that Harris Reed served as creative director from 2022 and that, under him, the brand committed to sizes up to 14 for most styles, with select pieces up to 18. Reed is reported to have stepped down in March 2026, citing a WWD report; the sources reviewed do not name a successor, so current creative leadership is not stated here.
Business model and distribution
Nina Ricci is a group-owned brand where fragrance is a central part of the business. Puig's portfolio also includes Carolina Herrera, Rabanne and a majority stake in Dries Van Noten, which gives Nina Ricci access to shared group resources in distribution and beauty. The sources reviewed do not break down sales by channel or give revenue figures.
Why it matters
Nina Ricci shows how a couture house can become a fragrance-led brand under a beauty group. Its history spans the early licensing era, post-war Paris couture and a recent attempt to broaden size ranges, while its current direction depends on how Puig fills its creative leadership after 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Nina Ricci?
Nina Ricci has been owned by the Spanish group Puig since 1998. Puig also owns Carolina Herrera and Rabanne and holds a majority stake in Dries Van Noten.
What is Nina Ricci best known for?
The house is best known for its fragrances, above all L'Air du Temps from 1948, as well as its Parisian couture heritage.