Report
The grand Parisian bi hday soiree took place last month at the House’s bi hplace of Palais Garnier in Grands Boulevards, Paris
Longchamp’s grand Parisian birthday soiree for its 70th anniversary took place at the House’s birthplace of Palais Garnier in Paris
FOLLOWING LONGCHAMP’S FIRST ever readyto-wear runway show during the New York Fashion Week in early September, the modern luxury Maison of Jean Cassegrain celebrated the brand’s 70th anniversary proper in the Palais Garnier, at the edge of the Grands Boulevards, the birthplace of the House, where the Cassegrain family welcomed some of its collaborators from France and from close to 30 countries around the world, an invitation that stemmed from a desire to create an exceptional moment of reunion and family spirit.
From Kendall Jenner, Longchamp’s new brand ambassador; to celebrities who are friends of the brand ‒ Vincent Cassel, Guillaume Canet, Laurence Ferrari, Mr Bags, Pierre Hermé and more; to the craftspeople, model makers and hand-stitchers, who have worked from generation to generation in Longchamp’s Loire Valley workshops... all of whom donned their best Longchamp wear, and walked up the grand staircase of the Palais, laid down with a majestic green carpet, to greet Longchamp creative director Sophie Delafontaine, as well
as the modern generation’s Cassegrain family: president Philippe Cassegrain, and his children Jean Cassegrain and Olivier Cassegrain, respectively CEO of the house and director of the Longchamp boutiques in the United States.
On the steps of the Opera House, a line of pageboys in tuxedos wearing a phantasmagorical horse-head mask reminiscent of the House’s famous logo, welcomed the 2,000-strong guests to the sumptuous interiors of the Palais Garnier, where Dimitri Chamblas, former artistic director of the Opéra Garnier and current dean of the School of Dance at the Californian Institute of the Arts, awaited with a troupe of 30 ballerinas to perform the night’s opening number.
The commissioned ballet interpreted all forms of dance, including classical, Sufi, hiphop, breakdance, contemporary, tap dance, K-Pop, Bûto and tango, to the music mixed masterfully by Parisian DJ Ariel Wizman ‒ an immersive, inclusive and accessible show that illustrated beautifully Longchamp’s generous and cosmopolitan spirit.
“For 70 years, the House of Longchamp has been in constant motion. This is the hallmark of our family: moving forward, innovating, and always seeking to improve,” Delafontaine addressed during the party. “It is a permanent challenge for a family business in the hyper-competitive world of fashion that never stops. Movement is a state of mind: the Opéra Garnier and the world of dance perfectly illustrate this philosophy.” AM