Rayne (shoe company)
| Industry | Fashion manufacturer and retailer |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1899 |
| Founder | Henry Rayne, Mary Rayne |
| Headquarters | London, England |
|
Key people
|
Joseph Rayne, Edward Rayne, David and Rosie Graham, Laurence Dacade |
| Products | Theatrical costumes; from 1920s shoes |
Rayne (also known as H. & M. Rayne) is a British manufacturer known for high-end and couture shoes. Founded in 1899 as a theatrical costumier, it diversified into fashion shoes in the 1920s.
Its biggest successes came when the grandson of the founders Edward Rayne took charge of the firm in 1952, with further international expansion and strong markets in the United States and France. His input to the brand ended in 1987, when Rayne was sold to David and Rosie Graham. The company ceased trading in 2003, but was relaunched in 2013 with designs created by Laurence Dacade.
Rayne was holder of a Royal Warrant to Queen Mary, Queen Mother and the Queen, also supplying the shoes worn by the Queen, Princess Margaret and Princess Anne on their wedding days. It created the shoes worn by Elizabeth Taylor in the film Cleopatra – as well as supplying footwear to many other film stars, from Marlene Dietrich to Brigitte Bardot.
H. & M Rayne was founded in 1889 as a theatrical costumier by Henry and Mary Rayne and located close to The Old Vic in Lambeth. Early clients included Ballets Russes, Anna Pavlova and Vaslav Nijinsky. Its reputation earned it clients across society – it made shoes for actress and Edward VII's mistress Lillie Langtry; later it made shoes for Queen Mary, who awarded the company the first of its three Royal Warrants.
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