She’s one of the world’s most powerful multi-hyphenates, so today it comes as a shock to fashion insiders that Fenty, Rihanna’s fashion brand launched with backing from LVMH, is being put on hold after less than two years of trading.
According toWWD, the decision was a mutual one between Rihanna, who acted as artistic director and CEO, and LVMH, with suggestions that it might be due to the challenging retail climate, and the fact that Rihanna, based in LA, wasn’t able to physically meet with either her design team, based in Paris, or her producers in Italy. In a brief statement to the publication, LVMH said: ‘Rihanna and LVMH have jointly made the decision to put on hold the RTW activity, based in Europe, pending better conditions.’
Fenty’s business model is like a fashion-and-beauty Hydra, with heads including Fenty Beauty (which was last year valued at $3 billion), Savage x Fenty, her smash-hit lingerie collaboration which is one of the most exciting entries on the calendar at NYFW, and has championed body inclusivity from the beginning) and Fenty Skin, which launched to serious hype last summer.
And it seems that the focus will be continuing to grow these brands (or more like behemoths) in the immediate future. According to WWD, L Catterton, a private equity firm that is partially-owned by LVMH, led fundraising to support the retail expansion of Savage x Fenty.
Of course, we have tentative hopes that the phrase 'put on hold' signals that we might see the fashion side of Fenty, which celebrated the self-empowering act of dressing up and scooped a Fashion Award in 2019, resume service in the future.
SHOP: The Best Fenty Beauty Products 2022
1 of 9Fenty Icon Semi-Matte Refillable Lipstick, £18
"Struggling to find a universal red that works with darker skin tones? Icon covers every shade from warm terracottas to cool toned, blue reds, in a highly pigmented, semi matte finish. I am evangelical about recommending them. I love shade Grill Master for an everyday red, and the precise bullet means no need for a lip liner to get neat colour." Remy Farrell, Fashion and Beauty Assistant
2 of 9Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl Mascara, £21
'I'm a mascara junkie (it's in the job description), so I like to think I know a thing or two about the best wands out there. This impresses me. Its unusual, 'flattened teardrop' shape put me off at first, but I quickly got the knack of pressing the flat side up against lashes, before pulling upwards (rather than rolling) and using the other, comb-like side to separate and fan individual lashes out (this side works wonders for bottom lashes, too).' Beauty Director, Joely Walker.
3 of 9Fenty Beauty Liquid Killawatt Fluid Freestyle Highlighter, £24
"I'm a magpie when it comes to gold, and I can't help but be drawn to buying new highlighters. My latest favourite is the Liquid Killawatt in Honey Hawtie. A little dab goes a long way, and unlike some powder highlighters, there's no chalky finish: just a supreme glow." Remy Farrell, Fashion and Beauty Assistant
4 of 9Fenty Body Lava Body Luminizer, £46
'This is my Fenty fail-safe. Whether I'm baring shoulders via a Bardot top in a beer garden, or my legs are finally getting to see the light of day in the beach bar on holiday, it's this finishing touch that I reach for. That lustrous dose of shimmer luxes my look up a treat.' Beauty Editor, Annie Vischer
5 of 9Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer, £17
'As an unapologetic wearer and lover of lip gloss, I am a ride or die Gloss Bomb stan. I keep multiple shades (Hot Chocolat, Fenty Glow and Glass Slipper) in my arsenal at all times.' Former Fashion Director, Kenya Hunt
6 of 9Fenty Beauty Brow MVP, £17
'I would say I'm scared to touch my brows but this is so easy to use – and effective without being 'obvious'. Mine has currently run out and I am at a loss! It is a gamechanger.' - Fashion News and Features Director, Laura Antonia Jordan
7 of 9Pro Filt'r Foundation - £27
'I love a matte finish, and that's why this is is my go-to - it hydrates my skin without being shiny. Being mixed race can sometimes make it hard to find a true match for my complexion, but this foundation comes in 50 shades which meant I could find mine perfectly.' Former Castings and Bookings Assistant, Chloe Medley
8 of 9Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer, £28
'I'm calling it: cream bronzing is the way to go, especially with this cream bronzer. It has such a lightweight, sheer consistency you can slowly build it up (I used a big, bristled brush for this) to carve out your cheekbones and warm up your face. There's 7 shades to choose from spanning both cool and warm undertones.' Former Beauty Writer, Emma Stoddart
9 of 9Fenty Skin Hydra’Reset Instant Recovery Glycerin Hand Mask, £18
"After 2 years of feverish washing and sanitising, it felt only right to treat my hands to something a little bit more nourishing. This has the same tropical scent as the Butta Drop body moisturiser I already love, and locks in hydration with a glossy sheen. Is there anything more decadent than applying a mask before bed and letting it do all of the work?" Remy Farrell, Fashion and Beauty Assistant