Roger Vivier
Tod's Group · France
Roger Vivier is a Paris luxury footwear and accessories house founded in 1937 by the shoe designer of the same name, credited with creating the modern stiletto heel in 1954. It is part of Tod's Group, which holds a majority stake. Gherardo Felloni has been creative director since 2018.
| Founded | 1937 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Roger Vivier |
| Owner | Tod's Group (majority stake) |
| Creative director | Gherardo Felloni, since 2018 |
| Segment | Luxury and designer houses |
| Website | rogervivier.com |
What is Roger Vivier?
Roger Vivier is a French luxury house specialising in shoes, handbags and small accessories. It was founded by the shoe designer Roger Vivier and is today part of Tod's Group, the Italian luxury group led by Diego Della Valle.
History
The label was founded in 1937. Vivier is widely credited with popularising wedge soles and, according to Wikipedia, created the modern stiletto heel in 1954. The Belle Vivier pump with its square buckle debuted at Yves Saint Laurent's 1965 show and was featured in the 1967 film Belle de Jour. Famous wearers have included Marlene Dietrich, Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor and The Beatles. The Louvre's Musée de la mode et du textile has held a Vivier collection since 1987.
Tod's, led by Diego Della Valle, acquired the business in 2000, after which it lay dormant for four years before being relaunched. Wikipedia's entry on Tod's reports that the group holds a majority stake of 60.7% in Roger Vivier.
Products and positioning
The house sits in the luxury segment. Its range includes:
- Shoes: pumps, stilettos, wedges, the buckled Belle Vivier and the Maharaja slipper
- Handbags, including the Viv' Choc
- Jewellery, launched in 2019 and inspired by the square buckle
- Children's ballerinas, the Jeune Fille line, from 2011
Gherardo Felloni has been creative director since 2018, and the brand pairs its collections with short films and campaigns by photographers such as Olivia Bee and Michael Avedon.
Business model and distribution
The sources reviewed describe a Paris boutique inspired by Vivier's own apartment on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and stores in the United States. Roger Vivier is one of four brands in the Tod's Group portfolio alongside Tod's, Fay and Hogan. In 2024 the Della Valle family agreed to take Tod's private with L Catterton, which changes the listing status of the parent but not the brand's position in the group.
Why it matters
Roger Vivier is among the best-known historic names in luxury footwear, and its buckle and heel designs remain in active use. As a majority-owned brand of Tod's Group, it shows how heritage houses are being revived inside Italian luxury groups.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Roger Vivier?
Roger Vivier belongs to Tod's Group, which acquired the business in 2000 and holds a majority stake of 60.7% according to Wikipedia. Tod's was taken private in 2024 by the Della Valle family together with L Catterton.
Where is Roger Vivier from?
Roger Vivier is a French house founded in 1937. Its historic boutique is on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris.