Patou
Designer Parfums (Dilesh Mehta) · France
Patou is the Paris fashion house founded by Jean Patou in 1914, revived as a ready-to-wear brand after LVMH took a majority stake in 2018. In 2026 LVMH sold its stake, and the house is now fully owned by Dilesh Mehta, founder of Designer Parfums.
| Founded | 1914, Paris |
|---|---|
| Founder | Jean Patou |
| Owner | Dilesh Mehta / Designer Parfums (since 2026) |
| Previous owner | LVMH (majority, 2018 to 2026) |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Website | patou.com |
What is Patou?
Patou is a French fashion brand offering women's ready-to-wear and accessories under the name of couturier Jean Patou. After seven years inside LVMH, it returned to independent ownership in 2026, when Dilesh Mehta, founder of Designer Parfums, bought back 100% of the company, according to Modaes citing WWD. Creative director Guillaume Henry left in February 2026, and no successor had been announced in the sources reviewed.
History
Jean Patou founded his house in Paris in 1914 and from 1919 produced couture, ready-to-wear and perfume. He was known for modern, sporty clothing, and the fragrance Joy was marketed from 1929 as the most expensive perfume in the world. The company stopped haute couture in 1987. Procter & Gamble bought the business in 2001 and sold it to Designer Parfums in 2011. In 2018 LVMH took a majority stake and relaunched the fashion activity as Patou with Guillaume Henry as artistic director; his first collection appeared in 2019. In July 2026 LVMH exited the business.
Products and positioning
Under Henry, Patou was positioned as an accessible designer brand with playful, feminine ready-to-wear, priced below the major Paris luxury houses. Le Patou bag, launched in 2021, was its first leather handbag. Collaborations included Onitsuka Tiger and Ladurée.
Business model and distribution
Patou relies on a mix of wholesale, e-commerce and a small number of stores. According to Modaes, it has about 100 points of sale internationally, stores in South Korea and Japan, and a permanent space at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris since 2023.
Why it matters
Patou's journey from LVMH relaunch to sale illustrates how luxury groups are pruning smaller labels. Its next creative and commercial direction under independent ownership remains to be set.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Patou?
Patou is owned by Dilesh Mehta, founder of Designer Parfums, who bought back 100% of the company from LVMH in 2026. Mehta had owned the business since 2011 before selling a majority to LVMH in 2018.
Is Patou still part of LVMH?
No. LVMH sold its stake in Patou in 2026, according to Modaes citing WWD. The brand had been majority owned by LVMH since 2018.