PARIS (AP) — The reopening of Notre Dame was once a solemn birthday party of cultural and religious renewal. But for some, the historical cathedral’s revival additionally felt like a meticulously choreographed branding match via LVMH and different luxurious conglomerates.Bernard Arnault, the lowkey billionaire in the back of luxurious powerhouse LVMH and a key Notre Dame donor who incessantly tops the checklist of the arena’s richest males, was once on the heart of the birthday party. He was once surrounded via his circle of relatives, the French president, the archbishop and clergy, and the unmistakable symbols of his luxurious empire’s affect, together with its manufacturers Louis Vuitton and Dior.France’s first woman Brigitte Macron and her U.S. counterpart, Jill Biden, each had Girl Dior purses. Louis Vuitton creative director Pharrell Williams carried out kitted out in Louis Vuitton. South African soprano Beautiful Yende additionally contributed with a rendition of “Superb Grace” whilst dressed in a Dior robe embellished with 110 carats of diamonds.
Welcome to the “inauguration of the LVMH area,” commented tv journalist Yann Barthès concerning the cathedral rite. LVMH has loved extraordinary visibility in France in 2024, particularly as a high-profile sponsor of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Some puzzled the style of such emblem prominence going on in a sacred area just like the loved Gothic monument, whilst noting LVMH’s the most important contribution to the reconstruction.
“You’ll be able to’t blame monsieur Arnault, a businessman, to do trade. However folks are actually asking if it was once an acceptable venue for a show like that,” mentioned vogue PR advisor Theo Fontaine.“It’s been an ideal PR yr for LVMH — that’s needless to say,” Fontaine added. “The Olympics and now Notre Dame. The entire international has been gazing.”No longer some distance in the back of Arnault sat representatives of Kering, including some other layer to the continued competition between France’s two biggest luxurious conglomerates.
French President Emmanuel Macron, heart, and his spouse Brigitte Macron arrive to wait the inaugural Mass, with the consecration of the altar, on the Notre Dame Cathedral, five-and-a-half years after a hearth ravaged the Gothic masterpiece, as a part of ceremonies to mark the Cathedral’s reopening after its recovery, in Paris, France, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photograph by the use of AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, heart, and his spouse Brigitte Macron arrive to wait the inaugural Mass, with the consecration of the altar, on the Notre Dame Cathedral, five-and-a-half years after a hearth ravaged the Gothic masterpiece, as a part of ceremonies to mark the Cathedral’s reopening after its recovery, in Paris, France, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photograph by the use of AP)Learn Extra
Actress Salma Hayek and her husband CEO of Kering Francois-Henri Pinault sit down inside of Notre Dame Cathedral earlier than France’s iconic cathedral is officially reopening its doorways for the primary time since a devastating hearth just about destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019, Saturday Dec.7, 2024 in Paris. (Ludovic Marin/Pool by the use of AP, Report)
Actress Salma Hayek and her husband CEO of Kering Francois-Henri Pinault sit down inside of Notre Dame Cathedral earlier than France’s iconic cathedral is officially reopening its doorways for the primary time since a devastating hearth just about destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019, Saturday Dec.7, 2024 in Paris. (Ludovic Marin/Pool by the use of AP, Report)Learn Extra
Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault attended along his spouse, actress Salma Hayek, who wore a adapted Gucci coat. Gucci is Kering-owned.The development, marking the fruits of an 840 million euro ($882 million) recovery effort following a devastating 2019 hearth, introduced in combination world dignitaries and cultural icons.The recovery united France’s company giants. Arnault’s 200 million euro donation was once the biggest, adopted via 100 million euro contributions from Pinault and the Bettencourt-Meyers circle of relatives of L’Oréal. Over 250 firms and a couple of,000 craftspeople contributed to the five-year recovery effort, which reconstructed the spire, repaired vaulted ceilings and restored stained-glass home windows.Because the bells of Notre Dame rang out throughout Paris, the cathedral’s rebirth stood as a testomony to collective effort — but in addition for some as an emblem of the way France’s seats of energy and its prized luxurious trade are inextricably intertwined.French President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron welcomed heads of state, together with President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William and Elon Musk, to a rite steeped in custom — and haute couture.
Arnault attended along with his circle of relatives, together with Dior chair and CEO Delphine Arnault, LVMH symbol and surroundings director Antoine Arnault, Moët Hennessy deputy CEO Alexandre Arnault, LVMH Watches CEO Frédéric Arnault, and Louis Vuitton product and building director for watches Jean Arnault. Antoine Arnault’s spouse, type Natalia Vodianova, was once additionally in attendance.“I’m pleased with the outpouring of generosity from in every single place the arena, to which the LVMH Workforce and my circle of relatives sought after to give a contribution from the very starting, which has enabled the recovery of this jewel of our heritage,” Antoine Arnault mentioned in a remark posted to LinkedIn.“This ordinary venture highlighted the distinction of French technology and the ability of just about 2,000 architects, staff and craftsmen of all trades,” he added.But, public response was once mixedPapuna Biliseishvili, 24, who watched the rite in Paris, quipped, “If the satan wears Prada, the cathedral wears Louis Vuitton and Dior.”
Cari Lefebvre, 27, mentioned “that is probably the most PR the Catholic Church has observed in centuries.”Marie-Claire Dubois, a 45-year-old Catholic worshiper from Paris, expressed her disapproval. “This can be a sacred position. It’s gorgeous that those firms contributed, however the branding will have to have remained out of doors,” she mentioned “Notre Dame merits appreciate as a space of God, now not a show off for luxurious.”Whilst the grandeur of the reopening sparked debate, Arnault’s donation and LVMH’s contributions to the cathedral recovery—together with 36 300-year-old oak bushes for the spire—were broadly praised.LVMH’s affect on the Paris 2024 Olympics additional cemented its stellar yr. The corporate crafted customized show instances for five,000 medals and the Olympic torch, showcasing its artistry and precision. Berluti, some other LVMH emblem, designed costumes for the hole rite, whilst an Olympic-themed Style Global vogue display, supported via the gang, drew global consideration all the way through Paris Couture Week.
Tensions between Arnault and Pinault, the riding forces in the back of LVMH and Kering respectively, had been on complete show with their manufacturers’ distinguished appearances on the cathedral. This competition dates again many years to a sour bidding warfare over Gucci within the overdue Nineties, which Pinault’s Kering in the end received. Since then, their pageant has prolonged past vogue into the nation-states of artwork, philanthropy and world affect.In Notre Dame, French luxurious was once additionally championed via the French Catholic church — and was once on show even within the sew of the liturgical vestments. French vogue clothier Jean-Charles de Castelbajac was once known as on via the church to design the cathedral’s 2,000 clothes. The unorthodox designs had been amusing, fashionable — and possibly shockingly minimalist. They ensured that even the clergy’s gowns mirrored high-fashion artistry, additional underscoring the intersection of religion and vogue on the match.
