Fragrance house

Charles Jourdan

Charles Jourdan began as an independent shoe manufacturer in 1919 and introduced its Seducta luxury range in Romans-sur-Isère, France, in 1921. After World War II, Charles Jourdan’s sons René, Charles, and Roland took over and expanded the shoe lines; the brand opened its first Paris women’s boutique in 1957, expanded to London in 1959, and that year established a relationship with Dior to create, manufacture, and distribute Dior shoes internationally. During the 1960s and 1970s, Charles Jourdan developed a creative partnership with photographer Guy Bourdin. The resulting campaigns used surrealist fashion imagery and placed story before product in the advertising. The brand also diversified beyond shoes into bags and ready-to-wear clothing during the 1970s. Portland Cement Werke bought the company in 1981, while Sanofi acquired Parfums Charles Jourdan in 1983. After financial collapse and liquidation proceedings, Groupe Royer bought Charles Jourdan in 2008 and relaunched the brand in 2017; in 2022, Christelle Kocher designed a comeback collection.