"The Famous Red-Bottom Shoe"
Christian Louboutin is a French fashion designer whose high-end stiletto footwear incorporates shiny, red-lacquered soles that have become his signature.
Initially a freelance designer for fashion houses, he started his own shoe salon in Paris, with his shoes finding favor with celebrity clientele.
He has partnered with other organizations for creative projects including limited edition pieces, gallery exhibits, and even a custom bar.
His company has since branched out into men's footwear, handbags, fragrances and makeup.
Louboutin helped bring stilettos back into fashion in the 1990s and 2000s,vdesigning dozens of styles with heel heights of 120 mm (4.72 inches)and higher.
The designer's professed goal has been to "make a woman look sexy, beautiful, to make her legs look as long as he can"
While he does offer some lower-heeled styles, Louboutin is generally associated with his dressier evening-wear designs incorporating jeweled straps, bows, feathers, patent leather, red soles, and other similar decorative touches.
He is most popularly known for the red leather soles on his high heel shoes, commonly referred to as "sammy red soled shoes"
His signature Red Soles were first created in 1993.
In his first year of business, Louboutin sold 200 pairs of shoes. In 2012, he sold 700,000 a year and expected revenue to grow at an annual rate of 40 percent.
In terms of market share, the U.S. accounts for 52 percent of Louboutin's sales; Europe, the Middle East and Russia, 30 percent; and Asia & Japan, 18 percent.
Louboutins can sell from $495 and up, with crystal-encrusted pairs costing up to $6,000.
The base price for a custom-made pair of Louboutin is $4,000. If the style already exists, it is standard price tag plus 30%
In 2003, his first extension outside of shoes was the introduction of his handbags and purses line.
In 2011, he launched a collection of men's footwear at a new exclusive store in Paris.
In 2012, Louboutin partnered with Batallure Beauty LLC to launch Christian Louboutin Beaut� to enter the luxury beauty market
In 2015, he expanded his foray into beauty with a lipstick collection. The tube was inspired by Babylonian architecture and Middle Eastern antiquities.
As of 2017, he offers 38 tones, divided into three collections.