Our Story
The birth of the Nicolas Villani brand dates back to the 1960s, when its founder, Nicolas Villani, opened his first bespoke atelier in Rome, having gained solid experience with the greatest Italian tailors.
The exceptional quality of his work, combining creativity and mastery, earned him the prestigious Fondazione Maestrelli Prize in Rome.
During that "Dolce Vita" era, many artists were won over by his precise cuts, which blended elegance and authenticity.
On the streets of Rome, he caught the eye of a French woman who would become his wife. For her, he decided to move to Paris.
Thus, in 1966, Nicolas Villani, an Italian at heart, settled in Paris, drawn by its spirit of freedom. He opened a boutique-atelier in the Pigalle neighborhood, bustling with artists and creators.
His wife, passionate about history and culture, would launch her own creative endeavor by founding her own space dedicated to fashion in 1975.
And so, Jeanne and Emma, the two daughters of these passionate, creative souls, grew up in Pigalle, on Rue Henri-Monnier, at the foot of the Butte Montmartre.
Throughout their childhood, Jeanne and Emma were bathed in a colorful and picturesque atmosphere, where the most vibrant silhouettes and styles in their neighborhood captured their attention.
They grew up encountering whimsical characters and admiring unique styles that could not be found anywhere else in Paris.
It was in this creative environment that Jeanne, the eldest sister, decided to pursue a career in fashion.
After studying at Esmod, she stayed in Milan and then in New York, where she joined the prestigious Parsons School of Design to further her skills in fashion design and pattern making. She worked at Karl Lagerfeld and Shiatzy Chen before eventually joining the family business.
Later, following studies in brand management and marketing at Institut Lübeck and solid training in fashion collection design, Emma joined the House to contribute her personal touch.
Since the 2000s, in the new space on Avenue Marceau, building on their heritage, Jeanne and Emma have taken over the artistic direction of the brand and breathed new energy into the House, marking a true creative turning point.
Their collaborative talents have given birth to new lines, where the cuts are rethought and revisited.
For the first time, a ready-to-wear line for men and women was launched.
The goal is to provide a contemporary light to the values that have driven the company for nearly half a century: research, design, and an obsession with quality.
The House aims to connect craftsmanship and modernity by creating collections that blend fantasy, creativity, and boldness.
The ambition is clear: to rely on the foundations of bespoke tailoring to better create ready-to-wear lines, to break free from all conformism, and to mix an Italian attitude with a decidedly trendy and avant-garde Parisian style.
Today, the Nicolas Villani brand, fueled by the creative energy of Jeanne and Emma, continues its development with passion, offering original and timeless creations.
The House continues to celebrate fashion while remaining resolutely forward-looking, committed to creative research supported by new tools developed through new technologies…
