Blufin

BLUFIN IN TIME

2011: In April the Blumarine and Blugirl monobrand boutique opens at Paris in Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

In May Blumarine monobrand boutique opens at Kuwait City.
2010: In March Blufin signes a licence agreement with De Rigo Vision S.p.A., a leading company in the high-range eyewear business, for the design, production and worldwide distribution of Blumarine and Blugirl-branded eyewear and sunwear.
The Blumarine Eyewear and Blugirl Eyewear lines will be distributed through the De Rigo Vision network, which reaches the most exclusive opticians and department stores all over the world, other than at Blumarine and Blugirl boutiques.

In April Blufin signes a licence agreement with Idea2 S.p.A, a leading company in the production and distribution of textiles and furnishing products, exclusively Italian made, for the design, production and worldwide distribution of Blumarine homeware collection.
The furnishing collection completes the house-linens, tableware and ornamental items Blumarine collections.

In April the Blumarine monobrand boutique opens in Shenzhen, China.

In April and May the first Blugirl monobrand boutiques open in Hangzhou, Shangai and Shenzhen.

In September the Blumarine monobrand boutique opens in Toulouse, France and the Blugirl monobrand boutique opens in Beijing, China.
2009: In January Blufin opens the new showroom at Manzoni 38 (Milan).
In February the first Blugirl italian monobrand boutique opens in via della Spiga 48 (Milan).
In February the Blumarine monobrand boutique opens at Doha, Qatar.
In March the Blugirl monobrand boutique opens at Manama, Bahrein.
In March the Blumarine monobrand boutique opens at Pusan, Corea.
In May the second Blumarine monobrand boutique opens at Dubai (Dubai Mall).

The new Blumarine fragrance, Bellissima, is presented in September, produced and distributed by the ITF-ICR Group. The bottle is the brainchild of the famous Paris designer Thierry De Baschmakoff. The model Bianca Balti is the star of the ad campaign by the fashion photographer Michelangelo di Battista. In September Blufin participates in the “VOGUE Fashion’s Night Out” initiative, promoted by Condé Nast and the Milan city council, with the production of two limited edition Blumarine and Blugirl t-shirts with an eco theme. 30% of proceeds from the sales of these creations go to Milan city council for the “Adopt a Tree” scheme, organised in order to increase the number of trees planted in the city of Milan.

In September, for the Coca Cola Light “Tribute to Fashion” event held during the spring/summer 2010 Milan fashion shows, Anna Molinari, together with other Italian fashion designers, creates the exclusive design of the Coca Cola Contour bottle (in the giant, 1 m 70 cm tall version), reinterpreted with four different outfits in Blumarine style. Proceeds from the sale at auction of the designer bottles go to the “Milan Municipality for Abruzzo” initiative.
2008: In February Blufin and Sinv S.p.A. sign a multi-annual licensing agreement for the production and distribution of the Anna Molinari line.
Rossella Tarabini resigns as creative director of the line and artistic director of the maison while continuing to supervise the Blumarine ad campaigns.

In April the Blumarine monobrand store opens in the top-end Burjuman shopping centre in Dubai.

In May the Blugirl monobrand boutique opens in Kiev.
2007: In June the first Blumarine Cruise collection is presented, exclusively for the monobrand boutiques and selected buyers from Italy and other countries.

Blufin signs the exclusive distribution agreement with Korea’s LG Fashion Corporation.

In July the first Blugirl monobrand boutique opens in Rome.

In September the new Blugirl Folies line is introduced, featuring items in denim embellished with casual details, under licence to Spazio Blu S.r.l.

Another two new licensing agreements come into being: the first with SVAD Dondi S.p.a. for the Blugirl homeware range of linen and furnishings for the home, the second with Visibilia S.p.a. for the Blugirl eyewear range, including sunglasses.

In October the Blumarine monobrand boutique opens at Avenue Montaigne 56 in Paris.

In October Blufin signs a multi-annual licensing agreement with exclusive world rights with ITF-ICR for the Blumarine and Blugirl fragrance ranges.

In December the Blumarine monobrand boutique opens in Miami with a large opening ceremony attended by the designer Anna Molinari, her son Gianguido Tarabini, Blufin CEO, as well as numerous celebrities, buyers and journalists.
2006: In January the monobrand Blumarine boutique opens at Via dei Tornabuoni 18/R in Florence.

In April the Blumarine monobrand boutique opens at Via Camerelle 71/A on Capri.

In December the Blumarine boutique opens in Taipei.

The start of the licensing agreement with Compagnia Italiana Del Cristallo S.p.a. for the production and distribution of Blumarine Home, a collection of tableware and ornamental and decorative items for the home.

After the death of Gianpaolo Tarabini the son, Gianguido Tarabini, takes over management of the company as CEO of Blufin S.p.A.
2005: In March the Blumarine monobrand boutique opens in Saint Tropez.

April sees the official debut of the Blumarine watch collection, under licence to Global Watch Industries S.r.l. “La Stella”, showpiece in the timewear collection, has zircons mounted on the five-pointed dial. The limited edition of the same model, made with diamonds, has added sophistication.

In May the Blumarine boutique opens in the Villa Moda shopping mall in São Paulo, Brazil.

In June the Helmut Newton foundation photography museum in Berlin inaugurates the exhibition A GUN FOR HIRE of photography by Newton, with the most significant photos of his career selected one year after his death by his wife June. Thirty-three images in the exhibition are dedicated to Blumarine who entered into a long partnership with the great photographer in 1992.

In October Anna Molinari is the guest of Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills. In honour of the designer a show is organised in Los Angeles for the first time of significant items from the Blumarine collection. All the proceeds are donated to the Cedar-Sinai Women’s Cancer Research Institute in Los Angeles.
2004: Major success in the States for Blumarine: the Blufin Group S/S 2005 collections record a 25% increase over the 2004 summer season.

In October Saks Fifth Avenue organises an important event in New York dedicated to the designer Anna Molinari and inaugurates the Blumarine shop-in-shop.

In October the Blumarine monobrand boutique opens in Osaka.
2003: Official opening of the Hotel Touring in Carpi in Janary, a family-owned hotel.
The furnishings, in a minimal chic style, reflect the charm and focus on sophisticated details that distinguish Anna Molinari’s style, while coordination of works and organisation are delegated to her son Gianguido.

The Miss Blumarine Jeans (clothing and accessories for girls aged 4 to 14) and Miss Blumarine Baby (clothing for baby girls aged 0 to 36 months) lines are introduced, under licence to Spazio Sei S.r.l.

The Blumarine monobrand boutique is opened in Marbella in March.

The second Blumarine monobrand boutique is opened in Tokyo in December.
2002: The Blumarine monobrand store opens in July in the prestigious space in Via Bocca di Leone in Rome.

The Blugirl S/S 03 prêt-à-porter collection for teens is shown for the first time on the Milan catwalks in September to considerable public and critical acclaim.

The second Blumarine monobrand boutique opens in Hong Kong.

A trip to Japan in November. Blumarine is shown in Tokyo and Taipei with considerable coverage in the local press and other media.
2001: New monobrand store opened in August in Tokyo. At the same time an exhibition opens of the most significant Blumarine ad campaigns from 1991 to date: photos by Albert Watson, Helmut Newton, Jurgen Teller, Ellen Von Unwerth, Peter Lindberg and Tim Walker of Carrie Otis, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, Carla Bruni and Monica Bellucci.

Licensing agreement made with Aldo & Ivo Portolano Guanti S.r.l. for the production and distribution of the Blumarine gloves collection.
2000: The new millennium begins with the opening of two new boutiques in Italy and Asia, more specifically in Venice and Taipei.

In February, at the A/W 2000/01 shows, the ultra-luxe Blu-Vi, the “diamond” cardigan, is presented.
A unique one-off item embroidered with diamonds and trimmed at the cuffs with real pearls.

New licensing agreement with Emma S.r.l. for the production and distribution of the Blugirl handbags line.

New licensing agreement with Le Bonitas S.p.A. for the production and distribution of the Blumarine beachwear & underwear collections.
1999: The opening of new stores continues with the Taipei monobrand boutique.

The autumn/winter ad campaign created by the young photographer Tim Walker and interpreted by an outstanding model, Jasmine Guinness, brilliantly and imaginatively presents the entire Blumarine world with a new combined philosophy of beauty, glamour and fun.

Licensing agreement with Visibilia S.p.A. for the production and distribution of the Blumarine eyewear collections, including sunglasses.

Licensing agreement with Velmar S.p.A. for the production and distribution of the Blugirl beachwear & underwear collections.
1997: The designer Anna Molinari and Blumarine continue to dominate the Italian and international fashion scene: the show in Tokyo (April ‘98) confirms the critical acclaim achieved in previous years by the designer which increasingly strengthens her image on the world scene.

New licensing agreement with Bellantuono S.r.l. for the production and distribution of the Blumarine bridal wear line.
1996: The first Blumarine monobrand boutique opens in Singapore and also the first one in Seoul.

The firm numbers more than 700 retail outlets and exports 46% of the global revenues.
1995: The Blumarine line is joined by the innovative and trendy new Anna Molinari range, designed by the daughter Rossella Tarabini, and by the Blugirl line, prêt-à-porter for younger women.
1994: The firm created by Anna Molinari with her husband and children is constantly expanding and can count on 400 retail outlets worldwide with a ever-increasing 20% exports quota.
1992: Helmut Newton, one of the greatest fashion photographers, interprets the Blumarine image, creating one of the maison’s finest ad campaigns.

The Blumarine Home Collection of furniture and linen for the home is introduced, under licence to SVAD Dondi S.p.A.
1990: The first Blumarine monobrand boutique is opened at Via Della Spiga 42 in Milan.
1983: The Blumarine line is joined by Miss Blumarine for girls aged 4 to 14, under licence to Spazio Sei S.r.l.
1981: First show at the space in Via Manzoni in Milan.
1980: Blumarine makes its debut at Modit, the single most important Italian trade show for the industry.
1977: Anna Molinari and her husband Gianpaolo Tarabini set up Blumarine.