Fragrance house

Albert Nipon

Albert and Pearl Nipon began in Philadelphia with a maternity-wear business in the 1950s and started the Albert Nipon company in 1972. They developed it into a maker of high-end women’s dresses, with the label becoming prominent during the 1970s and 1980s. Pearl Nipon was the principal designer and creative force, while Albert managed the business; the label’s identity was associated with feminine dressing. Its recognizable design language included Peter Pan collars, smocking, tucks, pleats, piping, bows, and other feminine detailing. In 1985, Albert Nipon was sentenced to prison for tax evasion and conspiracy- and bribery-related offenses, and the company later experienced a downturn and entered Chapter 11 reorganization. In 1988, Albert Nipon Inc. sold substantially all of its trademarks, trade names, and related goodwill to Leslie Fay, while the Nipons continued working with the brand. The associated Philadelphia operations had shuttered by 1992, and Leslie Fay filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1993. The label’s fragrance history includes a self-titled women’s fragrance launched in 1983 with a woody-spicy profile.