FRANCE. The Rochas fashion house – acquired by Procter & Gamble (P&G) in 2003 as part of the Wella deal – is to be closed, according to a report in Women’s Wear Daily (WWD). But the company will continue to produce fragrances under the Rochas brand, the publication understands.
Rochas fashion, under the leadership of designer Olivier Theyskens (pictured), has garnered much critical acclaim in recent years. “Theyskens is modernising the roots of the brand, and the link to fashion gives the fragrance business more validity,” a company spokesman told The Moodie Report back in 2003 (The Moodie Report.com, 17 December 2003).
However, despite an estimated growth of around +30% for Rochas ready-to-wear last year, WWD said the overall financial performance of the fashion house was understood to be loss-making.
Rochas fashion and fragrance passed to P&G as part of the Wella acquisition, finalised in 2003 (The Moodie Report.com, 3 September 2003).
The Rochas fragrance portfolio includes both feminine and masculine scents such as Poupée and Lui .
MORE STORIES ON P&G/ROCHAS
Cosmopolitan Cosmetics unveils new launches from Rochas and Charles Jourdan – 17/12/03
Procter & Gamble wraps up Wella – 03/09/03
