PARIS – Puig is celebrating its more than 110 years of existence with a new book, called “Puig, Home of Creativity.”

The 148-page tome published by Rizzoli will be sold in select bookstores starting Sept. 2. It focuses on the legacy, values and brands that comprise the company founded by the Puig family, as well as a snapshot of the group’s present and future. 

“In the last few years we have been forced to talk more about Puig than just the brands that we have under our umbrella,” explained Marc Puig, chairman and chief executive officer of the company. That was particularly true since the group went public in May 2024.

“When the 110-year anniversary arrived, we felt that many of the stories and things that had happened over the last decade were worth putting in black and white,” he said, adding this was important for the world — as well as company employees — to see.

“It’s a good reflection of the essence of who we are,” the executive said. “Puig, Home of Creativity” was fashioned to reflect the company’s spirit. It is also meant to complement the book Puig published to mark its centenary, called “Puig, 100 Years of a Family Business.”

“The 100-year anniversary was an homage to the second generation,” said Puig. At the time, three of the four of the family members who made that up were still alive. But by today, all of them have passed away. 

“This book is more a legacy for the next generation, because now we’re transitioning, from the family point of view, from the third to the fourth generation,” said Puig. “This book is a platform of where we are going.” 

The company — with fashion and beauty brands including Rabanne, Carolina Herrera, Dries Van Noten and Jean Paul Gaultier — has been developing strongly. Last year Puig’s sales were 4.79 billion euros. Its products are sold in over 150 countries.

Puig has grown its worldwide market share of fragrances from 3 percent to more than 10 percent.

“We have been able to, over time, propose ideas that broke the molds,” said Puig, explaining that has been in terms of products and storytelling. “We create the environment for people to be able to grow and take risks.

“‘Home of Creativity’ was a good way to express we are a home, because Puig’s culture is based on a family’s culture that has [infused] through the organization, where you try to take care of people,” said Puig. “But at the same time, you push the limits, and you try to excel at what you do. It’s [also] ‘creativity,’ because we like to think that we are willing to take risks.”

The company’s choices over the years that have shaped it into what Puig is today — be it the focus on fragrance or niche brands or own brands — are highlighted in the new book.

It opens with a photographic look of Barcelona, home to Puig since its conception, and traces the group’s evolution until today, when the company is a premium beauty and fashion powerhouse with fragrance, makeup and skin care.

There’s a dive into the Puig family’s history, the company’s values and creative partnerships, as well as the thinking behind its brands. This is sprung to life with contributions from the likes of perfume historian Michael Edwards and perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena, images from the archives and newly commissioned photographs.

Fourteen of the brands are highlighted, including Rabanne and its iconic metallic chain-mail dress, plus interviews with Charlotte Tilbury, Jean Paul Gaultier and Dries Van Noten, who talks about how his garden has influenced his creative world. 

A section describes Wes Gordon’s succeeding Herrera at her eponymous brand. There is also a spotlight on Uriage’s history, among other notable brand moments.

Edwards penned a section about the rise of niche fragrances, which are important strategically for Puig, which has brands such as Penhaligon’s, L’Artisan Parfumeur and Byredo.

Puig’s globetrotting is highlighted, as is its product development. With a deep sailing history, a major moment came last year, with the first Puig Women’s America’s Cup.

Puig, on the behalf of his family, asked Ellena to create four colognes in memory of Antonio Puig, who founded the house.

“Historically, we had some products that had the Puig family name that we were very proud of and over time they have been disappearing,” said Puig. “We wanted to make an homage to the name and to some of the inspirations for those products that at some point really shaped who we were as a company.”

The exercise made the family proud, according to Puig.

“There’s always the question that you have to ask yourself: What makes that brand or company’s personality, its value system? What’s the essence that differentiates that company?” said Puig. “What are the characteristics of this company that the family has shaped that we want to maintain?” 

Change is of the essence. If one stays still, they fall — like in bicycle riding, he said. “But you also have to decide what it is that we want to keep evolving and changing, so that this company can survive and excel going forward,” added Puig.

“Creating this book is a long and ambitious process,” said Catherine Bonifassi, editorial director of Rizzoli New York, in a statement. “During this journey, as an editor, you truly get to see the personality of the people you work with, as you are facing together challenges, surprises, creative decisions…, exchanges that reveal the real values of a brand and its people’s creativity, openness, commitment and boldness.”

“Puig, Home of Creativity” can be pre-ordered on rizzoliusa.com.