Few people work as hard as Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Adept at harnessing her desires and making them a reality, during her 14-year career thus far Rihanna has released numerous critically acclaimed albums, become creative director of Puma’s women’s collection and released a game-changing Fenty Beauty line (just to name a few highlights), and she is far from finished. In collaboration with French luxury fashion and lifestyle company LVMH, Rihanna will be launching her own maison under her existing brand, Fenty.

Such a move is significant on a multitude of levels. Not only is this the first new house developed by LVMH since Christian Lacroix was launched in 1987, but Rihanna is both the first woman and the first woman of colour to achieve this highly coveted spot in the LVMH brand family. Of this honour, Rihanna took to Instagram to respond “big day for the culture. thank you Mr.Arnault [sic] for believing in this little girl from the left side of an island, and for giving me the opportunity to grow with you at @LVMH. This is proof that nothing is impossible. Glory be to God 🙏🏿”

The house will create ready-to-wear, shoes, sunglasses and jewellery, and is cited by Rihanna to be inspired by her Barbados background. The launch of Fenty is a major step forward when it comes to fair and accurate representations of people, specifically women of colour, in the fashion industry. Utilising varying body shapes, skin tones and genders within her advertising, and creating clothes for every body, Rihanna is continuing her crusade for a more inclusive world. This fight began prior to Fenty’s inception with the launch of her beauty range that famously provides products for over 40 different skin tones.

Sneak peaks of the first collection from the new Fenty brand have been released for the past few weeks, revealing a monochromatic, refined and inclusive line, with hints at subdued neutrals with structure and a penchant for exposed legs also revealed in Rihanna’s interview with the New York Times.

The new label will be releasing items exclusively on its website every few months, with the first collection has dropped at the Fenty pop-up store in Paris, and will launch online from May 29.