Vionnet

Vionnet is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1912 in Paris by designer Madeleine Vionnet (1876–1975). The label rose to prominence in the 1920s and 1930s, becoming renowned for its innovative approach to tailoring and dressmaking. Vionnet's designs helped redefine silhouettes, emphasizing movement and fluidity rather than rigid structure.

The house is best known for the bias-cut technique, where fabric is cut on the grain of the body rather than along true grain lines. This method allowed lightweight fabrics to drape softly and follow the body's contours, producing garments with a sense of ease, elegance, and architectural drape. Vionnet favored minimal ornamentation, clean lines, and a focus on fabric quality and construction, often creating gowns that could flow into chiseled, sculptural forms.

Historically, Vionnet dominated the couture world through the interwar period, influencing fashion with its emphasis on cut, proportion, and movement. The designer retired in the late 1930s, and the house faced hardship during and after World War II, eventually going dormant for several decades.

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the Vionnet name was revived by fashion interests seeking to reintroduce its heritage. Today, the brand operates as a luxury label that presents couture-inspired collections and ready-to-wear, drawing on its legacy of draping, bias cuts, and refined simplicity. The revival aims to balance archival reference with contemporary design, maintaining Vionnet's reputation for fabric-driven elegance and movement.