Fashion: France Nominates a Special Envoy for Fashion

One of the many, many things I admire about France is the way as a nation it embraces, celebrates and respects its fashion industry. Whereas one sometimes gets the impression in the U.S. and in the U.K. that fashion is considered a rather frivolous pursuit, in France one senses instead a deep respect for the industry as a whole. Perhaps its the billions of dollars in revenue the sector generates each year? Or the fact that it constitutes an important source of employment that has ripple effects throughout countless other economic sectors?

Further evidence of the industry's heft lies in the recent nomination of a special envoy for haute couture and prêt-à-porter: Noted journalist, author and cultural critic Elisabeth Quin will report directly to France's Industry Minister, Christian Estrosi. In addition to helping devise new policies to protect French fashion know-how and craftsmanship, her mandate will involve creating a permanent liaison between fashion industry professionals and the Ministry for Industry. Bonne chance Madame Quin.

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles

Comments

[Helene]

Dearest Make Do Style:

You don't really think I'm going to let you off the hook that easily, do you? I want to know more!

Why wouldn't similar support work in the UK? I think that budding young designers need all the help they can get. Maybe if the U.K. did do more to support its designers, they wouldn't all decamp for New York and Paris the minute they get the chance? Just to be clear, I understand why they leave but I believe many of them would stay were London to offer a more hospitable climate for their businesses.

Helene

[John Agee Paris]

I completely agree with Make Do Style. France has an infinitely more attuned sensibility to fashion, or really to anything aesthetic for that matter. In the US, it's all business, and it's easy to tell when you look at the roundup of shows at the end of a season and compare Paris to New York.

[Make Do Style]

France has a different view to fashion and culture. It also has a protectionist policy for ensuring Paris remains the place for fashion. In the same way it protects and supports the film industry. I think these choices are great. I'm not sure that it would work in the UK.