Serena Rees
| Serena Rees | |
|---|---|
| Born |
14 March 1968 England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Spouse(s) | Joseph Corré (divorced) |
| Children | 1 |
Serena Rees (born 14 March 1968)[1] is a British businesswoman best known for cofounding Agent Provocateur with her then husband Joseph Corré. She currently owns Cocomaya chocolatiers.
Biography
Serena Rees, an adopted daughter of Indian parents, who was working as a model in Chelsea.[2] met Joseph Corré, Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren's son, in 1992 at a nightclub.
Agent Provocateur
Rees - tired of seeing women dressed in drab undergarments - came up with an idea to start a lingerie store that was filled with colorful and fashion-forward lingerie. With her former husband, the son of designer Vivienne Westwood who was also a former employee of his mother's business, the two opened Agent Provocateur in the Soho District on Broadwick Street. When they first started, Agent Provocateur was strictly a shop. Neither Corre or Rees had any intentions of designing lingerie. After having difficulties finding attire they liked, the two started their own line.[3]
Since 1994, Agent Provocateur grew into a brand spanning into 13 different countries with over 30 stores. Rees made sure to cater to a celebrity clientele by enforcing a strict confidentiality policy.[3] Consequently, all employees sign confidentiality agreements not to talk about clients. Due to their popularity among celebrities, the brand often features celebrity models such as Kate Moss.[4]
Other business ventures
After Rees' divorce in 2007, Agent Provocateur was purchased by the private equity house 3i for £60m.[5] Rees sold her shares in Agent Provocateur. She now owns Cocomaya, a bakery and chocolatier with several branches in London, where she resides with her daughter.[6]
References
- ↑ "Researcha.co.uk - UK Company and Company Director Reports". Web.researcha.com. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
- ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3640836/Panty-politics.html
- 1 2 Archived May 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Wilson, Amy (2009-03-23). "Agent Provocateur says lingerie sales hold up". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
- ↑ Attwood, Karen (2007-11-16). "Agent Provocateur sold to private equity firm 3i for £60m - Business News - Business". London: The Independent. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
- ↑ Interviews by Rhiannon Harries (2009-11-22). "How We Met: Joel Bernstein & Serena Rees - Profiles - People". London: The Independent. Retrieved 2012-02-23.