Anne Fontaine

Anne Fontaine is a French fashion brand built around a simple idea: the modern white shirt as a wardrobe essential. It started in Paris in 1993 when designer Anne Fontaine and her husband Ari Zlotkin launched the label with a focus on elevated, feminine shirts that quickly became a signature. Over time, the brand expanded into a full women’s ready‑to‑wear line, including tailored pieces, occasionwear, accessories, handbags, and shoes, all with a refined Parisian sensibility.

The brand operates a small, intentional network of boutiques and shop‑in‑shops across the United States, Europe, and parts of Asia, supported by a global e‑commerce platform. As of November 2024, Anne Fontaine had about 45 stores worldwide, a footprint that reflects a deliberate post‑pandemic reset rather than broad expansion. Sales are split nearly evenly between the U.S. and Europe, with the American market accounting for slightly more than half.

A notable milestone in the brand’s history is the development of its own retail network, giving it direct control over how its collections are presented. In recent years, Anne Fontaine has been selectively reopening and adding locations in key luxury markets. Between 2023 and 2024, it opened four new U.S. boutiques in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Orlando, and South Florida, and returned to London with a boutique in Knightsbridge. These moves signal a renewed focus on marquee urban and resort destinations, particularly in high‑end malls and prime fashion streets.

The company’s parent, Anne Fontaine Diffusion SAS, is based in Paris and continues to guide the brand’s creative direction and strategy. After financial challenges during and after the pandemic, the group secured a safeguard plan approved by the Paris Economic Court, allowing it to restructure debt while maintaining its independence and development ambitions. In the U.S., the local operating entity went through Chapter 11 restructuring in early 2024, but the brand has continued to operate and open new locations, indicating a clear intent to maintain and grow its presence in the American luxury market.

For landlords and developers, Anne Fontaine represents a compact, design‑led luxury tenant with a distinct identity and a loyal customer base. The brand tends to favor intimate, well‑curated spaces in premium shopping environments, where its Parisian aesthetic and heritage in tailored shirting can stand out. Its recent activity shows a brand that is stabilizing and selectively expanding, with a clear preference for high‑visibility locations in luxury malls and fashion‑centric districts.