LVMH Is Growing Through Partnership With Epic Games

LVMH is a conglomerate that has brought together some of the world’s most respected names in fashion, luxury, media, and other businesses. The company can point to respected industry leaders and world recognized brands that include:

Gilles Hennessy, Hubert Védrine, Yves-Thibault de Silguy, Berluti, Celine, Christian Dior, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, Givenchy, JW Anderson, Kenzo, Loewe, Loro Piana, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Moynat, Off-White, Patou, Phoebe Philo, Rimowa, Stella McCartney, Acqua di Parma, Benefit Cosmetics, Cha LingFenty, Beauty by Rihanna, Fresh Parfums, Givenchy, Guerlain, Kenzo Parfums, KVD Vegan Beauty, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Make Up For Ever, Marc Jacobs, Beauty Officine, Universelle, BulyOle, Henriksen Parfums, Christian Dior, Perfumes Loewe, STELLA by Stella McCartney, DFS La Grande Epicerie, La Samaritaine, Le Bon Marché, Sephora, Starboard Cruise Services, Bulgari, Chaumet Daniel RothFred Hublot Repossi TAG Heuer Tiffany & Co. Zenith Ao Yun Ardbeg, Armand de Brignac, Belvedere Bodega, Numanthia, Cape Mentelle Chandon, Château Cheval Blanc, Chateau d’Esclans, Château d’Yquem, Chateau Galoupet, Cheval des Andes, Clos des Lambrays, Cloudy Bay, Colgin Cellars, Dom Pérignon, Glenmorangie, Hennessy, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Krug, Mercier, Moët & Chandon, Newton Vineyard, Ruinart, Terrazas de los Andes, Veuve Clicquot, Volcan de mi Tierra, Woodinville Whiskey Company, Belmond, Cheval Blanc, Connaissance des Arts, Cova, Investir, Jardin d’Acclimatation, Le Parisien, Les Echos, Radio Classique, Royal Van Lent.

This impressive list of brands, including many of the top names in fashion as well as liquor and more, distinguishes LVMH from any other retailer. Even Chanel (which is not listed here) is owned 34.4% in a passive partnership with LVMH. Bernard Arnault leads this French company as its CEO. He has acquired some of the world’s most prestigious brands, from Tiffany & Co. in the U.S. to Christian Dior in France and Loewe in Spain. It is truly an international company.

Now we learn that the company plans to add their touch to the 2024 Olympics. LVMH has partnered with Epic Games to host an event in Paris to celebrate the global competition. The move reflects an effort to directly involve luxury brands with immersive digital experiences, and it is a good indication of what kind of partnerships luxury players are working on right now. The partnership was just announced on June 14, 2023, and is set to create new customer experiences across the LVH portfolio and add new tools to LVMH’s design pipeline. It will use 3D technologies for all the brands.

These tools will include use of Unreal Engine, a gaming engine tool that was recently used in Puma’s Black Station 2 launch. The tool can be used to create high-definition, realistic gaming experiences and support new ways to present collections and ad campaigns. It has been on the fashion industry’s radar, as the industry considers how to present its visual-heavy brands in new digital environments that showcase the products in the best light.

LVMH group managing director Toni Belloni said to Glossy that the Epic tools will help the company “engage more effectively with younger generations who are very much at ease with these codes and uses.” However, LVMH is targeting more than just younger customers. Taking inspiration from high-net-worth collectors in the art world who utilize digital tools to review prospective art acquisitions, fashion companies like LVMH are hoping that web3 can help them target these affluent customers as well.

LVMH has been continuously investing in new technology, often leveraging new startups discovered through its annual Innovation Award programs (since 2017). It then uses the LVMH Pavilion at the Viva Tech conference in Paris to exhibit its innovations each year. At the Awards this year, Chairman and CEO of LVMH Bernard Arnault mentioned that LVMH was also a startup some years ago.

Epic Games is an American game and software company. The company was founded by Tim Sweeney as Potomac Computer System in 1991 and is now headquartered in Cary, N.C. Some of its popular titles include Fortnite (2017), Battle Breakers (2019), and Fall Guys Ultimate (2020).

POSTSCRIPT: The extraordinary number of companies that were accumulated by Bernard Arnault since 1987 (just 36 years ago) is amazing. I publish the list of companies with awe, recognizing Bernard Arnault’s vision to be the world’s fashion leader. Next year should be an especially great year for the company.