IRFĒ

IRFĒ is a French fashion house with roots in the Russian émigré community of interwar Paris. The original Maison IRFĒ was established in 1924 by Irina Alexandrovna Romanova and Felix Yusupov, Count Sumarokov-Elston. Its name combined the first names of its founders: Irina and Felix. The house occupied premises at 10 rue Duphot in Paris and was closely associated with the cosmopolitan social world of the 1920s. The brand's first collection was presented at the Hôtel Ritz on Place Vendôme. Its launch attracted attention not only because of the clothes but also because of the public fascination surrounding Yusupov, a Russian prince and prominent émigré figure. The house employed friends of the Yusupov family and other Russian immigrants, while Irina Romanova and members of her circle also participated in presenting the collections. This gave IRFĒ an intimate, aristocratic and distinctly Russian character within the Paris fashion scene. IRFĒ expanded rapidly during its first period. In 1925 it opened a branch in Le Touquet, followed by branches in London and Berlin. The founders and their circle also pursued related ventures, including a porcelain shop and restaurant projects, although these activities were separate from the core fashion business. In 1926 the house introduced a small perfume line organized around four fragrances: Blonde, Brunette, Titiane and Grey Silver. The names were positioned around hair color and age, reflecting the period's highly specific approach to defining feminine clientele. The original house and its branches closed in 1931 because of economic difficulties. The perfume activity continued for a few additional years in the atelier, but the fashion house itself disappeared for approximately nine decades. Its early history remained part of the broader story of Russian artists, designers and aristocrats who established creative and commercial lives in Western Europe after the Russian Revolution. IRFĒ was re-established in 2013 by Olga Sorokina. Sorokina became interested in the original house after encountering the history of Russian émigré artists in the book Beauty in Exile and subsequently meeting the founders' granddaughter. The revived house is based in Paris, with its design studio and headquarters on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. It presents high-end ready-to-wear and accessories, with production undertaken by French and Italian ateliers. The modern brand made its runway debut during Paris Fashion Week in September 2013, connecting the relaunch with the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. In its revived form, IRFĒ draws on its historical identity without being limited to a museum reconstruction. Its positioning combines Parisian luxury fashion, Russian aristocratic heritage and the narrative of a long-dormant house brought back into contemporary operation. Publicly documented information about its ownership structure, financial performance, senior management beyond Olga Sorokina, and current geographic distribution is limited.

IRFĒ began in Paris in 1924, when Irina Alexandrovna Romanova and Felix Yusupov, Count Sumarokov-Elston, founded a fashion house whose name was formed from their first names. The original premises were at 10 rue Duphot. The house's social profile was shaped by its founders' Russian aristocratic background and by the network of Russian émigrés who worked there or helped present its collections. The first collection was shown at the Hôtel Ritz on Place Vendôme. IRFĒ quickly became a subject of public curiosity in Parisian high society. Yusupov's reputation and the rumors surrounding his life contributed to the attention, but the business also benefited from the appeal of a fashion house that combined Parisian presentation with Russian aristocratic identity. The staff included friends of the Yusupov family and other Russian immigrants. Romanova and women in her circle also served as models, giving the early house a personal and socially connected presentation style. Expansion followed soon after the Paris opening. A first branch was established in Le Touquet in 1925. Additional branches opened in London, on Berkeley Street, and in Berlin, near Pariser Platz. The wider business activities associated with Yusupov included a porcelain shop and restaurant-related projects, but IRFĒ's principal identity remained that of a fashion house. In 1926 it added a limited perfume range consisting of four named fragrances: Blonde, Brunette, Titiane and Grey Silver. The line was organized according to the intended wearer's hair color or age, a marketing approach characteristic of the period. The original business did not survive the economic pressures of the early 1930s. Maison IRFĒ and its branches closed in 1931. The perfume activity reportedly continued for several years in the atelier, but the fashion operation ceased. For much of the twentieth century, IRFĒ therefore existed primarily as a historical reference connected to Russian émigré culture and the interwar Paris luxury scene. The house was revived after an approximately ninety-year interruption. Olga Sorokina encountered the history of Russian émigré artists through the book Beauty in Exile and later contacted the founders' granddaughter. That connection helped lead to the restoration of the brand in 2013. The revived IRFĒ established its design studio and headquarters on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. The contemporary house operates in high-end ready-to-wear and accessories. Its garments and accessories are made through French and Italian ateliers, linking the modern business to the traditional European luxury-production system. The revived brand's first fashion show took place during Paris Fashion Week in September 2013, a launch that also coincided with the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. Modern IRFĒ consequently presents itself through both a Paris fashion framework and a historical narrative rooted in Russian émigré heritage. Publicly available reference material does not establish detailed current sales, ownership structure beyond Sorokina's role, or a complete list of present collections and executives.

1. 2013IRFĒ restored

   Olga Sorokina re-established the brand after its long interruption and based the revived house in Paris.

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2. 2013Modern Paris Fashion Week debut

   The revived house presented its first modern fashion show during Paris Fashion Week in September.

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3. 1931Original house closed

   Maison IRFĒ and its branches closed for economic reasons, although the perfume activity continued for a limited period.

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4. 1926Perfume line launched

   The house introduced a limited four-fragrance range named Blonde, Brunette, Titiane and Grey Silver.

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5. 1925Le Touquet branch opened

   IRFĒ expanded beyond Paris with a branch in Le Touquet.

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6. 1924Original Maison IRFĒ founded in Paris

   Irina Alexandrovna Romanova and Felix Yusupov established IRFĒ at 10 rue Duphot in Paris.

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7. 1924First collection presented at the Hôtel Ritz

   The house introduced its first collection at the Hôtel Ritz on Place Vendôme, attracting attention in Parisian high society.

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A Paris-based luxury fashion house combining French atelier production with Russian émigré and Romanov-associated heritage. The revived brand emphasizes historic continuity, aristocratic provenance and contemporary high-end ready-to-wear.

• Ready-to-wearLuxury fashion2013

  The contemporary IRFĒ house offers high-end ready-to-wear garments. The revived collections are developed from the brand's Paris base and produced through French and Italian ateliers. Available reference material describes the category and production network but does not provide a complete item-by-item catalogue or current collection names.

• AccessoriesFashion accessories2013

  Accessories form part of the modern IRFĒ offer alongside ready-to-wear. They extend the house's luxury-fashion proposition and are associated with its Paris-based design operation and European atelier production. Specific current accessory lines are not identified in the supplied reference material.

• Historic perfume lineFragrance1926

  IRFĒ introduced a limited perfume range in 1926. It comprised four fragrances: Blonde, intended for blondes; Brunette, intended for brunettes; Titiane, associated with red-haired women; and Grey Silver, aimed at women of an elegant age. The line continued for several years after the fashion house closed but is historical rather than confirmed as a current product range.

• 2013Re-establishment of the historic fashion houseStrategy

  IRFĒ had been inactive as a fashion house since the closure of its original operation in 1931. Olga Sorokina became interested in its Russian émigré history and pursued the brand's revival.

  What changed. The house was restored with a Paris design studio and headquarters on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, supported by production in French and Italian ateliers.

  Aftermath. The revived brand entered contemporary high-end ready-to-wear and accessories and made its runway debut during Paris Fashion Week in September 2013.

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• 2013Launch of the revived IRFĒ collectionProduct launch

  The restored house needed a public introduction to the contemporary fashion market after its long historical interruption.

  What changed. IRFĒ presented its first modern fashion show during Paris Fashion Week in September 2013.

  Aftermath. The runway presentation marked the public return of IRFĒ as an active Paris fashion house.

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• 2013IRFĒ fashion house restored after a roughly 90-year absence

  Olga Sorokina revived the historic Paris fashion house, re-establishing its design studio and headquarters in Paris.

  Other
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• 2013IRFĒ makes its modern runway debut during Paris Fashion Week

  The revived house presented its first documented fashion show during Paris Fashion Week in September 2013.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2013IRFĒ fashion house restored after a decades-long hiatus

  Olga Sorokina reestablished the historic Parisian fashion house after approximately ninety years of inactivity.

  OtherLeadership change
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• 2013IRFĒ makes its modern Paris Fashion Week debut

  The revived house presented its first modern fashion show during Paris Fashion Week in September, reconnecting the historical label with the contemporary fashion calendar.

  Product launchOther
  Source

1. IRFĒ
2. IRFĒ official website