Chanel Heads to Marseille, Arnault’s New Honor, Furla’s Latest Face – WWD

ANCHORS AWEIGH: Chanel is returning to the South of France for its cruise collection.

After staging the destination show in Los Angeles last year, the French fashion house plans to present the cruise 2025 line in the port city of Marseille on May 2.

The event will “celebrate the energy and cultural vitality that make it one of the most effervescent places on the Mediterranean coast,” Chanel said in a statement shared exclusively with WWD.

Chanel creative director Virginie Viard has previously alighted in Les Baux-de-Provence and Monte Carlo, making the French Riviera a natural destination, though as a multicultural hub with historic links to North Africa, Marseille has an edgier reputation that has made it a major draw for creatives and designers. 

“Chanel is delighted to be making a stopover in such a culturally open-minded city,” the house said.

As part of the OpenMyMed festival, Marseille has hosted shows by younger labels such as Jacquemus and Koché, but luxury brands tend to gravitate to more traditionally glamorous locations such as Cannes and Saint-Tropez.

Coming on the heels of its recent Métiers d’Art show in Manchester, England, the announcement suggests that Chanel is courting a younger clientele sensitive to diversity.

Louis Vuitton has scheduled its cruise show for May 23, while Dior has penciled in June 3, with locations to be revealed at a later date. — JOELLE DIDERICH

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS: Green might be the first color people think of at the mention of Bernard Arnault, one of the richest men in the world. But he’s also closely associated with red, white — and rosé, too.

At a ceremony on Thursday night, the chairman and chief executive officer of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton was crowned Personality of the Year by La Revue du Vin de France, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious wine monthlies.

The title trumpeted that in less than 40 years the luxury titan has become the global leader in wines and luxury liquors. LVMH’s wines and spirits division, spanning some 29 brands across Champagne, cognac, wines and spirits, generated revenues of 4.69 billion euros in the first nine months of 2023.

“He did it methodically, acquiring the most beautiful estates, the most prestigious names, with a knowledge of marketing, an intuition about the development potential of a château, and a sharp way of choosing the best teams, which is essential in this international market,” Denis Saverot, La Revue’s editor in chief, notes in his editor’s letter for the February issue, devoted to all of its “grand prize” winners.

Saverot also lauded the care LVMH takes in viticulture and winemaking, incorporating sustainable practices and “haute couture” means. “These houses and estates are the guardians of our landscapes, of a certain human and social harmony, too,” he wrote.

Arnault’s stable includes Dom Perignon, Ruinart and Krug in Champagne, and Château d’Yquem, Cloudy Bay, Cheval Blanc, Minuty and Château du Galoupet in wine.

Other Grand Prix winners recognized by the magazine, part of the Marie Claire group, include Champagne Philipponnat, named brand of the year, and the Restaurant Au Cheval Blanc in Feldbach for the wine list of the year.

Trailed by two of his sons, Antoine and Alexandre, Arnault arrived at the swanky l’Automobile Club de France to scoop up his prize scroll, and spoke eloquently about the “poetry” inherent in France’s vineyards and the creation of world-class wines.

He said he was particularly honored by the fact that La Revue’s previous personalities of the year include French President Emmanuel Macron, a vocal cheerleader for and defender of French winemakers, and French actress Carole Bouquet, who runs a winery on the island of Pantelleria.

Arnault recounted that his affinity with wine was forged through perfume, noting that the group’s famous noses, Guerlain’s Thierry Wasser and Dior’s Francis Kurkdjian, “are also very fine and erudite music lovers, as well as great wine lovers.”

He also noted that Christian Dior, a great fan of Alsace wines and gastronomy, entrusted the manufacture of his scents to Hennessy, the LVMH-owned Cognac distiller, who kept the activity through the ’80s.

Leading French wine critic Michel Bettane often said wine “is a place you pour into a glass,” Arnault said, concurring that “a great wine condenses a great place and inspires great thoughts.”

After a group photo, Arnault and his sons repaired to a grandiose wine and cheese party upstairs, where Château Cheval Blanc, an exceptional Saint-Émilion owned by LVMH, was very much in demand. — MILES SOCHA

FURLA‘S CAMPAIGN: Furla has named Chinese actor and singer Karry Wang as its new brand ambassador — the first time the Italian accessories company has appointed a man for a collection of women’s handbags.

Wang’s first appearance in this role will be in the campaign for Furla’s new Chinese New Year 2024 capsule “Out of blue, win in orchid” launching on Friday. In the images, Wang is seen dressed in a fitted white suit, seated on the floor and surrounded by the latest generation of Furla’s signature Candy bags in the colors reminiscent of Chinese orchids.

“Furla has always been an inclusive brand; over the years, the younger generation has played an important role in the brand’s success,” said Giorgio Presca, Furla’s chief executive officer. “I strongly believe that the talented Karry Wang will bring freshness with his unique personal spirit among the Chinese consumers.…His attitude will match perfectly the Furla’s brand concept of excellent quality, extraordinary creativity and classic inheritance.”

Wang, who is known for playing leading roles in the 2022 crime film “The Fallen Bridge” and war drama “Homecoming,” said he identified himself “with the brand values and aesthetics. It’s not just about a bag but about self-expression. The brand embodies a sense of originality and colorful soul while always remaining true to its heritage in Italian style and craftsmanship.”

The Candy bag has long been a signature model for Furla, which is controlled by the Furlanetto family, as it was first launched in 2013. — LUISA ZARGANI

NEW ROLE: Alsara Investment Group has appointed Andrea Fornasier as group PR and communication director. This is a new position at Alsara, founded by Rachid Mohamed Rachid, who also holds the position of chairman.

Fornasier reports to CEO Shahzad Akhtar, overseeing the PR network and press activities of the brands in the group’s portfolio.

These include brands Akoni, which produces eyewear for Valentino and Balmain; cool Italian label Khrisjoy; investor Bidayat; design venture Fromm; jewelry brand Azza Fahmy and Egypt-based handbags label Okhtein. Alsara is also gearing up to revive the Walter Albini brand, one of the founders of Italy’s ready-to-wear.

Fornasier, aged 42 and based in Milan, matured a significant knowledge in media relations and PR for lifestyle and fashion brands as PR director at ES_PR, communications agency founded by Emanuela Schmeidler.

Akhtar was named group chief executive officer of Alsara Strategic Investments last July,  a new position at the company, pointing to an increased focus on brand building and merger and acquisition activities.

Alsara Investment Group is an international private investment company based in Switzerland. In 2021 it bought a majority stake in Italian brand Khrisjoy with a view to expanding its global reach, product offer and digital capabilities. Positioned in the luxury range of the market and made in Italy, the brand has garnered a cult following with its Khris cocooning hooded puffer jacket.

Rachid is also the chairman of Valentino and CEO of the brand’s parent company Mayhoola, which also owns Balmain and Italian men’s wear brand Pal Zileri. Earlier in his career, he served as Egypt’s minister of trade, industry and investment, and was an executive at Unilever.

As reported, Cairo-based jeweler Azza Fahmy is planning an upscaling and international expansion drive — including an eventual push into the U.S. — following an investment from Bidayat, a subsidiary of the Alsara Investment Group.

10 Corso Como founder Carla Sozzani is working on an exhibition dedicated to Albini, who died in 1983, and former Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele was rumored to be preparing to helm the brand, but this has never been confirmed or denied. — L.Z.

RETAIL ART: The Chairish Art Gallery in partnership with Bergdorf Goodman is back for a second year.

The gallery, which opened Thursday and will remain until April 8, is located Bergdorf’s Fifth Avenue flagship. This year’s gallery features a special collection of more than 300 original artworks from 30 artists across five themed galleries.

The original artworks were expressly created by Bergdorf’s and are only available in-store, including limited-edition artworks using Bergdorf’s signature shopping bags. Similar works and prints/editions are shoppable on Chairish.com.

The 300 original artworks range from painting and illustration to ceramics and textiles. For example, the tennis pavillion-inspired gallery features artists serving up paintings and sculptures that capture the allure of the game. Artists include Kate Schelter, Ron Giusti, Shaun Ellison and Virginia Chamlee.

Those artists who have created limited-edition artworks using Bergdorf’s shopping bags are Alice Ford, Manuel Santelices, Jenny Walton and Euan Roberts.

Trophy portraits of favorite designer shoes and handbags were created by Tug Rice, Bernie Kaminski, Erika Lee Sears, Paule de Roussy de Sales and Tess Ramirez. — LISA LOCKWOOD