Revillon Frères
Historic French furrier and luxury-goods house with a major international fur-trading operation.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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History
Revillon Frères traces its origins to a Parisian business known as la Maison Givelet, established in 1723. Louis-Victor Revillon acquired the business in 1839, after which it operated under the Revillon name and developed into a leading French fur company. Its growth was based on a combination of luxury retailing, fur manufacture, international sourcing, and wholesale distribution. The house internationalized during the nineteenth century. It opened in London in 1869 and New York in 1878. By the close of the century, its retail presence included Paris, London, New York, and Montreal. Revillon also built a procurement system connected to European and Eurasian fur markets. A buying bureau in Leipzig operated from 1876, while a Moscow agency was established in 1905. The company purchased furs through markets in Moscow and Leipzig and through major regional fairs at Nizhny Novgorod and Irbit. Revillon’s expansion continued into Siberia, Mongolia, and Turkestan in 1908–1909. By 1912, the company was said to have 125 fur-trading posts in America and Siberia. Canada became a particularly extensive field of operation. A wholesale warehouse opened in Edmonton in 1899, followed by a network that reached 23 Canadian stores by 1903. Revillon competed directly with the Hudson’s Bay Company through western and eastern divisions. The western division covered northern parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The eastern division operated around James Bay and Ungava Bay in northern Quebec and maintained a fleet to serve its posts. The Canadian enterprise was incorporated in 1912. The Hudson’s Bay Company purchased 54 percent in 1926 and acquired the remaining interest by 1936. In 1938, the business was renamed Rupert’s Land Trading Company. Revillon’s Canadian presence left a material and geographic legacy: a number of Inuit communities in Nunavik occupy locations associated with former Revillon trading posts. The company also financed Robert Flaherty’s Nanook of the North, filmed near its Inukjuak post and released in 1922. A later expedition connected with the silent film The Silent Enemy used the Revillon post at Windy Lake during the winter of 1928–1929. In the United States, Revillon expanded its manufacturing base during the 1960s by acquiring Grauer Furs, founded by Austrian immigrant William Grauer and later run by his sons Abraham and Herman. In 1970, Revillon became a supplier of fur to Saks Fifth Avenue; that arrangement lasted through 1995. The next major ownership change came in 1982, when Cora acquired Revillon and made it part of the Cora-Revillon luxury division. Cora-Revillon subsequently became a separate privately owned company, with Revillon as its principal brand. The brand’s product scope extended beyond fur to include perfume. The available reference material does not establish a current headquarters, owner, management team, website, or active trading status, so those fields remain unresolved.
- 1982
Acquired by Cora
[1]Cora acquired Revillon and made it part of the Cora-Revillon luxury division.
- 1970
Saks Fifth Avenue supply relationship
[1]Revillon became a fur supplier to Saks Fifth Avenue in an arrangement that lasted until 1995.
- 1938
Renamed Rupert’s Land Trading Company
[1]The former Canadian Revillon business adopted the Rupert’s Land Trading Company name.
- 1936
Canadian operation fully acquired by Hudson’s Bay Company
[1]The Hudson’s Bay Company completed its acquisition of the Canadian operation.
- 1926
Hudson’s Bay Company takes a majority stake
[1]The Hudson’s Bay Company acquired 54 percent of Revillon’s Canadian fur-trading company.
- 1922
Financing of Nanook of the North
[1]Revillon financed Robert Flaherty’s film Nanook of the North, filmed near the company’s Inukjuak trading post.
- 1912
Canadian incorporation and peak post network
[1]The Canadian business was incorporated, while the wider company was reported to operate 125 posts across America and Siberia.
- 1908
Asian trading-post expansion
[1]Revillon began opening fur-trading posts in Siberia, Mongolia, and Turkestan during 1908–1909.
- 1899
Edmonton wholesale warehouse opened
[1]Revillon opened a wholesale warehouse in Edmonton, launching a major phase of Canadian expansion.
- 1878
New York branch opened
[1]Revillon opened a New York branch and strengthened its North American commercial presence.
Products and positioning
Historic French luxury furrier positioned around high-end fur garments, international sourcing, specialist craftsmanship, and prestige retail distribution.
Luxury apparel · 1839
Fur garments
Fur garments were the central product of the Revillon house. The company combined international fur purchasing with manufacturing and luxury retail, supplying its own stores and major department-store partners. Its historical sourcing network extended through European markets, Russia, Siberia, North America, and other northern regions.
Fur trade · 1876
Raw and traded furs
Revillon operated as a fur trader as well as a finished-goods manufacturer. Buying offices, warehouses, ships, and remote trading posts allowed it to acquire and distribute pelts through European, North American, and Eurasian markets.
Luxury retail
Luxury goods
The house operated stores and wholesale activities within a broader luxury-goods model. Its historical retail network included Paris, London, New York, and Montreal, while its later corporate structure described Revillon as a luxury division or luxury brand.
Fragrance
Perfume
In addition to fur, Revillon produced perfume. The available reference material confirms the category but does not provide a reliable list of fragrance names, launch dates, or current availability.
Marketing campaigns
- 1922Nanook of the North financing
Canada · United States
Revillon financed Robert Flaherty’s documentary Nanook of the North, which was filmed near the company’s trading post at Inukjuak in northern Quebec.
Outcome. The film became an important early documentary and connected Revillon’s northern trading operations with a landmark work of cinema.
Brand decisions
1982
Join Cora’s luxury divisionM&ABackground
Revillon entered a later ownership phase after decades as a historic fur and luxury-goods business.
Action taken
Hypermarket operator Cora acquired Revillon and placed it in the Cora-Revillon luxury division.
Aftermath
Cora-Revillon later became a separate privately owned company, with Revillon as its primary brand.
1970
Supply Saks Fifth AvenueStrategyBackground
Revillon had expanded its American manufacturing base through the acquisition of Grauer Furs during the 1960s.
Action taken
Revillon became the fur supplier to Saks Fifth Avenue.
Aftermath
The supply relationship continued until 1995, giving Revillon a long-running connection with a major American luxury retailer.
1936
Complete Hudson’s Bay Company acquisitionM&ABackground
The Hudson’s Bay Company had held a majority stake in the Canadian operation since 1926.
Action taken
The Hudson’s Bay Company acquired the remaining interest and took full ownership.
Aftermath
The Canadian operation was renamed Rupert’s Land Trading Company in 1938.
1926
Accept majority investment from Hudson’s Bay CompanyM&ABackground
Revillon’s Canadian fur-trading operation competed directly with the Hudson’s Bay Company and maintained extensive northern posts.
Action taken
The Hudson’s Bay Company acquired a 54 percent interest in the Canadian fur-trading company.
Aftermath
The transaction led to full Hudson’s Bay Company ownership by 1936 and the later renaming of the business as Rupert’s Land Trading Company.
Recent events
- 1982
Cora acquires Revillon[1]
M&A
French hypermarket operator Cora acquired Revillon and incorporated it into the Cora-Revillon luxury division.
- 1970
Revillon becomes a fur supplier to Saks Fifth Avenue[1]
Other
Following negotiations involving Herman Grauer, Revillon became the fur supplier to Saks Fifth Avenue. The relationship continued until 1995.
- 1960
Revillon acquires Grauer Furs[1]
M&A
During the 1960s, Revillon acquired Grauer Furs, a prominent New York fur-manufacturing company. The exact transaction year is not specified in the reference material.
- 1938
Canadian business renamed Rupert’s Land Trading Company[1]
Other
The former Revillon Canadian operation changed its corporate name to Rupert’s Land Trading Company.
- 1936
Hudson’s Bay Company takes full ownership of the Canadian operation[1]
M&A
The Hudson’s Bay Company completed its ownership of the Revillon Canadian fur-trading operation.
- 1926
Hudson’s Bay Company acquires control of Revillon’s Canadian fur business[1]
M&A
The Hudson’s Bay Company acquired a 54 percent interest in the Canadian fur-trading company, beginning the transition toward full ownership.
- 1912
Revillon Frères expands its international fur-trading network[1]
Other
The company was reported to operate 125 fur-trading posts across America and Siberia after expanding into northern and central Asian regions.
- 1912
Revillon Frères Trading Company Ltd. incorporated in Canada[1]
Other
The Canadian fur-trading operation was formally incorporated under the Revillon Frères Trading Company Ltd. name.
Sources1 sources
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