IRFE fashion house and IRFE bag

After the 1917 revolution, many worthy people left Russia, and Russian fashion houses opened in Paris, which became very popular. After all, after the First World War, everyone was looking for something new, fresh, and original. And here in France, many Russian aristocratic emigrants appeared, who were both gifted and knew the secrets of haute couture, since in the past they themselves were clients of the richest Parisian houses. In addition, they received a good art education in St. Petersburg, Moscow or Europe.

In home education in Russia, not only in the peasant environment, but also in aristocratic families, girls were taught needlework, often it was embroidery. That's why Russian princesses and the countesses had an innate taste and skill in needlework.

At that time, one of the most famous was the Irfe Fashion House - IRFE, founded by the princely couple - Felix and Irina Yusupov. The house was founded in 1924.

The fashion house quickly gained recognition from wealthy clients who were delighted with its aristocratic founders.

Irina Yusupova, nee Romanova, was the niece of Tsar Nicholas II. She was dazzlingly beautiful. In 1914, Irina married Prince Felix Yusupov, a descendant of one of the oldest and richest families in Russia. The wealth of the Yusupovs surpassed even the royal family.

Felix was known not only for his enormous fortune, but also for his amazing appearance - beautiful thin features, proud posture, and an enigmatic look. He studied at Oxford and often visited the most venerable representatives of Russian families and European aristocracy.

Felix Yusupov grew up in luxurious palaces that belonged to his family, one of which has now become a museum-estate of the Yusupovs in Arkhangelskoye. His mother Zinaida Yusupova, the most beautiful woman of that time, the portrait that V. Serov left, taught him to love beauty and admire perfection. Princess Zinaida Yusupova was not only beautiful, her education and elegance were widely known. The Yusupovs possessed an extraordinary collection of jewelry containing priceless diamonds.

In 1919, Russia had to leave. They were able to take with them a small part of the inheritance, which consisted of jewelry and paintings. After all, many Russian emigrants who fled from Russia expected to return soon. And only a small part of them were sure that they were leaving their homeland forever. Having sold several paintings, the Yusupovs bought a house in Paris, in which the Irfe studio was then opened.

In the name of the atelier, the first syllables of the owners' names are Irina and Felix. There were also Russian emigrants who, upon arrival in France, found themselves in even more difficult conditions than Irina and Felix. If we compare the situation in which the Yusupovs found themselves in France with that in Russia, then their Parisian life could not be compared with that luxurious life. But that was in the past.

And here the spouses were looking for an opportunity not only to return to their former glory, but to somehow earn money and create conditions for a somewhat bearable life .... The first models of the House were Princess Trubetskaya and Obolensk, among the employees - Irina's sister-in-law, nee - Countess Vorontsova-Dashkova. And the princess herself more than once tried on the outfits of her House to serve as an advertisement, and this was much more effective for Parisians, because Princess Romanova herself was photographed in dresses of the IRFE house, although she was never a fashion model. Their first collection was admired by the French Vogue: "Before you is a collection that is at the same time a selection, since it does not include any unsuccessful models."

In the beginning, there was a success, even three new branches were opened - in Normandy, London and Berlin. In 1926, the house of IRFE created a perfume line. The release of perfumes continued until 1940. In 1931 the House went bankrupt and ceased to exist for many decades.It turned out that Felix Yusupov, who has artistic taste and knowledge, had no business knowledge.

Prince Felix Yusupov died in Paris on September 27, 1967, when he was 80 years old, and Irina Yusupova died there, in Paris, on February 26, 1970, at the age of 74.

Almost 80 years later, Olga Sorokina, a former model and now a resident of Paris, decided to revive the IRFE House. On the eve of her decision, she visited the Yusupovs' granddaughter, Ksenia Sheremeteva-Sfiri, the heiress of the Yusupovs. And since then Olga has been reviving the Russian House in Paris. She is at the same time the owner and designer of the House, trying to preserve traditions - aristocratic romanticism, Russian culture, and tell about them in the language of "fashion", to introduce them into modern fashion. She pays a lot of attention to accessories - bags, shoes, belts, jewelry.

Much of what Olga has done reminds of Grand Duchess Irina and Prince Felix Yusupov. For example, a clutch, which is decorated with the crown of the princely family of the Yusupovs. It can be truly called Princesse.

Now all pret-a-porter clothes are made in the best French and Italian factories, aiming to return to the ranks of the greatest fashion houses in the world.