Nicolas Ghesquière and Ralph Toledano named in French New Year’s honours list

Nicolas Ghesquière and Ralph Toledano were among leading figures in French fashion who have been recognised in the nation’s annual New Year’s honours list.

 
Ghesquière, the women’s creative director of Louis Vuitton, was named Knight of the Legion of Honour, a high-level decoration in France, in the official list released on Thursday.
 
While Toledano, the former president of Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), was promoted to be Officer of the Legion of Honour. He had already been made a Knight in 2003.

Reacting to the news, Toledano told Fashion Network: “This promotion is a new evidence of the exceptional support by the Macron administration to French fashion.”
 
“Fashion is my passion, and this award comes in recognition of the accomplishments realised with amazing brands and designers. I consider that creativity must always be front and centre, made by exceptional teams, to whom I owe everything,” added Toledano who in a storied career has previously been president of the house of Karl Lagerfeld; CEO of Guy Laroche, where he appointed Alber Elbaz designer; and of Chloé during Phoebe Philo’s most beautiful moments of invention.
 
“I think that it also rewards the achievements of my tenure as president of the Federation de la Couture et de la Mode, and notably the merger between IFM and l’ École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne (FHCM’s predecessor) into l’ Institut Français de la Mode,” concluded Toledano, currently chairman of Victoria Beckham.
 
The list also revealed that three noted female figures in French luxury had also been promoted to Knight. Céline Brucker, general manager of L’Oréal France; Nathalie Célia-Kock-Chevalier, managing director of Bucherer France; and Diana Widmaier Picasso, co-founder and artistic director of jewellery house Mené.