Assouline Publishing
Encyclopedia
Assouline Publishing is a luxury book
publisher based in New York City
. It is owned and operated by husband and wife Prosper Assouline and Martine Assouline. Most titles focus on images, rather than text. They publish luxury editions and illustrated books
dedicated to photography
, fashion
, art
and design
. The Washington Post has described Assouline as "the fashion industry's favorite publisher for books that are beautiful, splashy and highly flattering." The two founded the publisher in 1994.
, France
in 1994 by Prosper and Martine Assouline. In 2005, the company moved to New York City
. Assouline began with an idea and a belief: the first, a notion that beauty, perfected, has meaning that is capable of transforming lives; and the second, that a book artfully crafted and highly considered in its visual content can open our eyes and minds.
Since the founding in 1994, Assouline has expanded to publish over 1,000 titles across international markets ranging on subjects including
art
, architecture
, design
, fashion
, gastronomy
,
photography
, travel
, and lifestyle. Assouline books are
distributed worldwide through
brand boutiques in Paris
, New York City
, Las Vegas
, Costa Mesa, Mexico City
, London
, and Istanbul
as well as luxury
retail
partners including Bergdorf Goodman
, Neiman Marcus
,
Nordstrom
, and Sotheby’s. Assouline books
may also be purchased online on the company’s e-commerce
site: assouline.com.
Prosper Assouline was the former artistic director
of several French fashion magazines and his experience began at age 16 working as an artistic design intern at Filipacchi Médias
. At age 18, he created and launched his
first magazine, Album. Martine’s experience ranges from modeling for some of the top international fashion brands to running Strategic Communications for S.T. Dupont, Louis Vuitton
, and Rochas
based in Paris
. With a vision of luxury in print, they founded Assouline in Paris
in 1994 and still run the company together.
In October 2010, Prosper Assouline was knighted by the French Minister of Culture
, Monsieur Frédéric Mitterrand
, and was invited into the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
. The ceremony took place at Sotheby’s in New York City
and the award was presented to Prosper by a friend and Assouline author, Thierry Despont. In 2005, the Fashion Group International honored Prosper with the Fashion Oracle Award, and in 2009 he received an Honorary Doctorate from the Academy of Art University
. Martine Assouline also received an Honorary Doctorate in 2009.
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
publisher based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It is owned and operated by husband and wife Prosper Assouline and Martine Assouline. Most titles focus on images, rather than text. They publish luxury editions and illustrated books
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
dedicated to photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
, art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
and design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
. The Washington Post has described Assouline as "the fashion industry's favorite publisher for books that are beautiful, splashy and highly flattering." The two founded the publisher in 1994.
Company History
Assouline was founded in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1994 by Prosper and Martine Assouline. In 2005, the company moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Assouline began with an idea and a belief: the first, a notion that beauty, perfected, has meaning that is capable of transforming lives; and the second, that a book artfully crafted and highly considered in its visual content can open our eyes and minds.
Since the founding in 1994, Assouline has expanded to publish over 1,000 titles across international markets ranging on subjects including
art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
, fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
, gastronomy
Gastronomy
Gastronomy is the art or science of food eating. Also, it can be defined as the study of food and culture, with a particular focus on gourmet cuisine...
,
photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, travel
Travel
Travel is the movement of people or objects between relatively distant geographical locations. 'Travel' can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.-Etymology:...
, and lifestyle. Assouline books are
distributed worldwide through
brand boutiques in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Costa Mesa, Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
as well as luxury
Luxury good
Luxury goods are products and services that are not considered essential and associated with affluence.The concept of luxury has been present in various forms since the beginning of civilization. Its role was just as important in ancient western and eastern empires as it is in modern societies...
retail
partners including Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman is a luxury goods department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The company was founded in 1899 by Herman Bergdorf and was later owned and managed by Edwin Goodman, and later his son Andrew Goodman....
, Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
,
Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
, and Sotheby’s. Assouline books
may also be purchased online on the company’s e-commerce
site: assouline.com.
Founders
Prosper & Martine AssoulineProsper Assouline was the former artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
of several French fashion magazines and his experience began at age 16 working as an artistic design intern at Filipacchi Médias
Hachette Filipacchi Médias
Hachette Filipacchi Médias, S.A. is a magazine publisher. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lagardère Media of France.- History :Hachette Filipacchi was founded by Louis Hachette in 1826 when he purchased the Librarie Brédif. Hachette was purchased by Matra in 1980, a firm associated with Ténot &...
. At age 18, he created and launched his
first magazine, Album. Martine’s experience ranges from modeling for some of the top international fashion brands to running Strategic Communications for S.T. Dupont, Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
, and Rochas
Rochas
Rochas is a fashion, beauty, and perfume house founded in 1925 by french designer Marcel Rochas, born in 1902 and died in 1955, first designer of 2/3-length coats and skirts with pockets...
based in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. With a vision of luxury in print, they founded Assouline in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1994 and still run the company together.
In October 2010, Prosper Assouline was knighted by the French Minister of Culture
Minister of Culture (France)
The Minister of Culture is, in the Government of France, the cabinet member in charge of national museums and monuments; promoting and protecting the arts in France and abroad; and managing the national archives and regional "maisons de culture"...
, Monsieur Frédéric Mitterrand
Frédéric Mitterrand
Frédéric Mitterrand , a Franco-Tunisian citizen, is the French Minister of Culture and Communication. Throughout his career, he has been an actor, screenwriter, television presenter, writer, producer and director.-Biography:...
, and was invited into the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
. The ceremony took place at Sotheby’s in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and the award was presented to Prosper by a friend and Assouline author, Thierry Despont. In 2005, the Fashion Group International honored Prosper with the Fashion Oracle Award, and in 2009 he received an Honorary Doctorate from the Academy of Art University
Academy of Art University
The Academy of Art University , a for-profit university owned by the Stephens Institute, was founded in San Francisco, California in 1929 by Richard S. Stephens...
. Martine Assouline also received an Honorary Doctorate in 2009.
Boutiques
- Assouline New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(The Plaza Hotel, Lobby Mezzanine, 768 Fifth Avenue) - Assouline Las VegasLas Vegas metropolitan areaThe Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
(Crystals at CityCenterThe Crystals (Las Vegas)The Crystals, also known as Crystals at CityCenter and Crystals Retail District, is CityCenter's retail and entertainment district that features fashionable clubs, gourmet restaurants, retailers, galleries, incidental offices and support areas...
, 3720 South Las Vegas Boulevard) - Assouline South Coast PlazaSouth Coast PlazaSouth Coast Plaza is an upscale-luxury shopping center in Costa Mesa, California, USA, in Orange County. The largest mall in California, its sales of over 1.5 billion are highest in the United States...
(3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA) - Assouline ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(35, rue Bonaparte) - Assouline IstanbulIstanbulIstanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
(Cevdet Pasa Cad No 25A, Bebek, IstanbulBebek, IstanbulBebek is a historic Istanbul neighbourhood that falls within the boundaries and administration of the Beşiktaş district. It is located on the European shores of the Bosphorus and is surrounded by similarly affluent neighbourhoods such as Arnavutköy, Etiler and Rumeli Hisarı.The direct translation...
) - Assouline LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(Liberty & Co, Regent Street, Ground Floor) - Assouline Mexico CityMexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
(Newton 35, Colonia Polanco, Delegación Miguel Hidalgo)