Sophie Boulesteix

INTERFILIERE PARIS: REAL-WORLD INTERACTIONS I encourage everyone to be more flexible with their seasonal agendas and come to Interfiliere Paris—it's essential! As a creative professional in a multinational market, I’ve realised that seasons and perfectly timed fairs simply don’t exist. We constantly need to meet, see, visit, and communicate—now more than ever. When prestigious fairs like Premiere Vision or Interfiliere take place, we attend eagerly, seeking inspiration from the best in the world. At Concepts Paris, we are thrilled to be part of Interfiliere Paris. The specific date doesn’t matter because our brains crave daily nourishment, and we go wherever the right people are. I often wonder about comments like, "This fair is too late; we're already prepared." Prepared for what, exactly? Is feeding your brain and obtaining the right answers for your marketing team a seasonal task? Do you really believe that the intricacies of technology can be fully grasped online? We need to understand what is truly feasible and tangible. Our recent review with clients revealed that the demand for information from reliable sources is greater than ever. There’s no room for make-believe trend books or greenwashing when you can look people in the eye. There's no guessing when you’ve experienced it firsthand. Join us at Interfiliere Paris. As an industry insider, you need it now more than ever! Illustration from Evolution 43, the well researched guide of Interfiliere WSN Salon International de la Lingerie & Interfilière Paris Concepts Paris

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Alright, enough about Jaguar—let’s talk about LVMH. Their latest installation in Minatomirai, Yokohama, is a marketing masterpiece. It doesn’t just bring luxury closer; it makes it tangible—and even rideable. Here’s why it’s a stroke of genius: 1. Strategic Location: Positioned in the heart of high-traffic shopping malls, it’s impossible to miss. 2. Perfect Timing: It taps into the festive cheer of Christmas and the holiday season, riding the wave of warm, feel-good vibes. 3. Viral Potential: Adorable kids enjoying the ride, captured in photos and videos, are destined to flood social media—just like this post. 4. Brand Impact: It’s unforgettable. It deepens the emotional connection to the brand and enhances its image effortlessly. I showed the video to my wife, and now guess what? She wants one too. How do I get this in my living room?

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Collaboration in Luxury Fashion I’d Wait For: Skiwear Edition Three years ago, before jetting off to Aspen or Courchevel, ski fashion enthusiasts were on the hunt for this set by Chloé x Fusalp. I personally had three friends begging me to help them order it after I posted this video. The price for the set was around €5,000, but who cared? This capsule sold out so quickly that it barely made it to the shelves or online stores, leaving my friends without stylish ski gear. Three years later, I consider this capsule the most successful luxury skiwear release. While some brands are entirely ski-focused, they’re often perceived as more technical than stylish. On the other hand, fashion brands release a few stylish—but often less-than-perfect—ski collections each year, including #Dior, #Prada, and #Fendi. Last year, #BrunelloCucinelli joined the scene with their skiwear collection, which they re-released this year. I also caught a glimpse of #LoroPiana update this season. The demand, which none of these brands fully meet, is for skiwear that is stylish yet technical. Not overly fashionable (like the logo-heavy designs from Dior or Fendi) and not too understated (like Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli). The ideal would strike a balance between style and technicality. Based on the above, here are the dream collaborations I’d wait for: 💡#Celine x #MonclerGrenoble I can’t recall CELINE ever collaborating, so I’m not sure if it aligns with their brand strategy. However, considering the close relationship between LVMH and Moncler (mentioned here: https://lnkd.in/dqnvVqXn) trust me—if this capsule ever launched, it would sell out within days. 💡#Chloé x #Fusalp Given the past frenzy over this duo’s capsule, another release from them could be just as successful. 💡#BottegaVeneta x #Bogner I also considered #Cordova as a potential partner for tapping into the U.S. market, but they may be too new (founded in 2014) and currently don’t offer a men’s line. BOGNER on the other hand, has a long-standing history and a reputation for serious skiwear (unsurprising, given its German roots). With the recent “bright spot” from Kering financial report (mentioned here: https://lnkd.in/dScfCErt), this capsule could be a strong statement, especially for conservative male clients with a high purchasing power. Imagine German engineering with an Italian fashion twist🤌🏻 Yes, I've previously mentioned that we’re getting tired of endless collaborations (here: https://lnkd.in/dzXZfREU), because the general impression is that quantity takes priority over quality. It’s all about finding a thoughtful balance. *When I say live content is important, I know that for sure:) My digital lookbook project for luxury fashion brands is here: https://lnkd.in/dkap6PDz #luxury #fashion Christian Dior Couture #lvmh Prada Group Prada #Moncler Richemont #richemont #kering

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When women thrive, the world thrives. This enduring message guides Fondation Chanel where our current programs directly impact the lives of over 9 million women and girls around the world and indirectly we impact the lives of many millions more through policy work and systems change. Over the past few years we have increased our work on the intersection of climate and gender, recognizing that women are often those most impacted by the climate crisis and that we won’t solve the climate crisis without both men and women at the table. To date we have granted over $25m to these partners focussed on women-led climate resilience and justice. An example of this are the entrepreneurial community and nature stewards at NEWS (Nature Environment & Wildlife Society) in India, helping to restore mangroves and strengthening their communities economic autonomy and resilience to climate change. Since 2011 approximately 16 million mangroves have been planted by thousands of women - improving biodiversity, protecting from flooding and providing opportunities for additional income by protecting and restoring the shrinking mangroves. As we enter the Summer seeing record temperatures across the globe already this year I would like to recognize our partners in Fondation CHANEL dedicated to addressing the gender and climate crisis and building gender and climate just future. www.naturewildlife.org

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Up to 75% on 11.11 And a usual of 15-25% depending on the platforms! That is the reality of the Chinese market! China is not easy and expensive to handle! Very common mistake is assuming that #china is cheap. China requires a completely different strategy, quite expensive to put in place! https://lnkd.in/gEh55YUx

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I interviewed entrepreneur Jonathan Dufour, the founder and creative director behind Spiritum Paris, a haute perfumery which reimagines the cosmos as a fragrance collection. Stepping inside the boutique, I encountered his interpretation of the celestial realm. Rich aromas and meditative handpan music created the ambience. I walked into a starry night sky. Learn about his brand vision and inspiration in my latest article for VISION MODE! #cosmeticindustry #sustainablebrand #entrepreneurship

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🚨 Meet the 18 startups that are leading innovation in the (luxury) retail industry 👇 Last week, luxury group LVMH revealed the 18 finalists for the 8th edition of its Innovation Award. 👩‍💻 Over 1500 companies registered, with 44% of the finalists (co-)founded by women. Finalists are grouped in 6 categories. 🛍 Omni-channel & retail • EQL: E-commerce tech to offer reliable, fair & memorable product launches of in-demand products • GK Concept: Tailor-made interactive in-store technology for merchandising and shopping experiences • Glanceable: Customer reviews aggregation & analysis platform using natural language processing for strategic insights 📸 Image & media for brand desirability • Ircam amplify: Innovative audio products & services that transform everyday sound experiences • Raive: Multimedia gen AI company with built-in IP royalty attribution • Trajaan: Search intelligence software designed for consumer insights and retail media teams 🎭 Immersive digital experiences • BLNG AI: Sketch-to-Design Gen AI software for the jewelry industry • FancyTech: 3D-modeling & gen AI video content production • xydrobe: Multi-sensorial luxury VR solutions for immersive in-store experiences 👷‍♀️ Employee experience, diversity & inclusion  • HERALBONY Co., Ltd.: Empowering artists with intellectual disabilities by licensing their artwork to brands for collaborations, promoting diversity and inclusion • OpenDecide: Science-based team dynamic development platform • Witty Works: Language-AI tool for sustainable, inclusive corporate culture ⭐️ Operations excellence • Authena: IoT solutions for product authenticity protection & real time traceability • Perception manufacturing: AI-based computer vision data analysis solution for factory process optimization and quality control • WizyVision: Software to rapidly ramp up mobile applications empowering frontline workers ♻️ Sustainability & green tech • Aectual: Circular 3D printed store furniture and architectural finishes using recycled materials • JIKAN Group: Transforming agricultural waste into biomaterials for the cosmetic industry • SYNOVANCE: Natural and bio-based dyes & pigments for cosmetics and fashion 1 startup of each category will win at the ceremony at Viva Technology, and a special prize is awarded for the #1 in data, AI and gen AI. One of the 6 will win the LVMH Innovation Award 2024 Grand Prize. All finalists will enroll in La Maison des Startups - LVMH, the Group’s incubator where they receive 10 months of support, mentoring & access to the LVMH network of experts. 🚀 In the ever-evolving world of fashion & beauty, innovation is one of the KEY moves to unlock competitive advantages & get/defend market leadership. The LVMH Innovation Award - introduced in 2017 - underscores this by supporting startups that transform the luxury industry. ➡️ Which startup(s) do you have your eyes on? 👀 #innovation #trends #tech #startups #luxury #fashion #beauty #genAI

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This is a fantastic initiative… That imposes respect & impedes role modeling / “walking the talk”.  I allow myself to question – having had to heal quite a few talents – : does this commitment translates into meaningful, day-to-day support for employees & managers ?  This can sometimes be unclear or inconsistent, especially in fast-paced, high-pressure industries like luxury retail. Are you planning to put in place listening & action channels to bottom-up potential sufferings ?  

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🌍 When Luxury Goes Green Yesterday, we had the pleasure of hearing from Christelle Capdupuy, Chief of Sustainability at Louis Vuitton, who showed us how luxury can lead the way in protecting our planet. 🌱 💡 Takeaways: 1️⃣ Sustainability isn’t just trendy—it’s essential to the future of luxury. 2️⃣ Regenerating resources beats just preserving them. 3️⃣ Circular creativity is the secret to staying both innovative and eco-conscious. A huge thanks to Christelle Capdupuy and our professor, Diana Mangalagiu, for inspiring us to think big about sustainable luxury! 🌟 #Sustainability #LuxuryLeadership #CircularEconomy #SustainableFuture

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I do not have an answer but does traceability sells ? I do believe that consumers value sustainability but is it an after thought or can it actually affect what piece of jewellery a consumer picks ? At the end of the day, the only truly effective way to limit our footprint in the world is to consume less. The more bell and whistle you add to selling say a simple pendant, the more costs are incurred so there needs to be a better way to promote traceability and sustainability. Are we actually solving a problem we created ? Do we have traceability information for most of the goods we consume ? Do we need such information at the product level ? At what costs ?

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Last summer, our team started looking into #DesignForDurability with the goal: how can we instantly measure this during the early prototyping stage? 👾👗 “You can’t”, said one of our advisors, “this requires physical tests on fabric, trim, garment level.” However, the same advisor made a couple of comments during our design working session: “this fabric is too thin for this type of shirt, it will wear out” and “this type of zipper will break rapidly in this dress”. We knew enough - and athena studio started to develop an early-stage durability predictor based on the principles of #DurableDesign and by, essentially, translating a designer’s tacit knowledge into an algorithm! We tested the methodology and results with leading brands and got amazing feedback, and are excited to see how durability plays a key role in EU regulations 🌿🇪🇺: #PEF, #ESPR, and of course the French #Ecomodulations. 👉The result? The circularity of your products’ design will influence its margin, and therefore should become part of your product development process! #fashion #fashiontech #circular #design #data

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Sunday is reading day! Happy to share many of my retail contributions! Check out : 💎 Luxury and popup retail reads in English and French 💎Several academic papers 💎My latest retail manuscripts And the links to othe retail content! #topretailexpert #retailenvironment #luxuryretail #luxuryservices #luxuryenvironment #retailmanuscript #retailreads

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🌟 Preserving History, One Fabric at a Time! 🌟 Discover the fascinating world of textile conservation and learn how experts are preserving historical fabrics for future generations. From the Bayeux Tapestry to the Shroud of Turin, see how modern techniques and advanced textile machines play a crucial role in this delicate process. 🔍 Read the full article to explore: The importance of textile conservation Techniques used to preserve historical fabrics The role of advanced textile machines Inspiring case studies and future innovations. 👉 Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/gs7mFAsc #TextileConservation #PreservingHistory #CulturalHeritage #TextileMachines #Svegea #FutureGenerations #TMAS #messefrankfurt #textilecuttingindustry #textilemachines #textiletechnology #sustainability #sewnproducts #textileindustry #innovations #SwedishInnovation #garment #manufacturing #cuttingedge #sustainable #techtextile

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I will get right to the point. There is a trend we have been experiencing for about 15 years: it has to do with the high speed at which fashion houses are changing designers, sometimes even after one collection (like Blumarine and Ann Demeulemeester), or appointing someone with completely different aesthetics to the role (such as Gucci and Moschino). There were times when an original designer stayed to oversee the brand even if they were no longer designing. Issey-san stopped designing the Issey Miyake collection in 1999; however, all four designers who came after him kept his ideas alive and were supervised by him. He wanted them to continue his vision, not jump all over. But this is an exception, plus there are almost no "original designers" left in the world of high fashion. The current trend is directed towards a new vision; there is no attempt to maintain continuity in anything from the product to the store design. So, I have a question: Is there an executive team meeting right before a new person takes over concerning the situation with "old customers"? Obviously, in 80% of the cases, the new person is ready to implement his/her vision. And what about the customers??? I guess there were no meetings like this at Gucci; the brand just dropped old AM clients like a hot potato (not all Gucci clients are attracted to the logo; some actually like his design). And what about Chloe? Chemena Kamali showed a great collection defining the new Chloe girl as romantic, urban, and carefree, with a lot of money. If you are a buyer, you were surprised by prices during your Fall 24 appointment. The collection looks great but is different from Gabriela Hearst's. So how do you transition your customers? Correct: you do it through the Pre Collection, offering a lighter, less expensive version of the runway. What does Chloe do? Let's look at the images below. Chloe showed their Pre yesterday, even though it will be shipping for a few months. The reason is understandable; they didn't want to unveil the product before the runway. However, it didn't look like a Pre-collection; there are no delicately displayed "codes," leading to the great runway. It is the second runway with over-styled, multilayered looks, saying: "This is $25k of clothing! Just look at me!!" This is just bizarre. It seems, there is no business development team working for the brand. Maybe Chloe is just trying to save money by removing this department? #wwd #bof #fashion

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What’s Galeries Lafayette’s secret to success in China? Uncover the EXCLUSIVE insights from the CEO - Nicolas Morineaux     🌟 Last December, Nicolas joined the department store chain with a mission to rejuvenate the brand from its 2013 model and transform it into what China shall offer today.    🔎 So, what makes Galeries Lafayette so special?    “Our department store model distinguishes us from shopping malls by focusing on DIRECT client engagement and delivering personalized shopping experiences,” Nicolas explains, especially with the help of WeCom/WeChat in collaboration with IT Consultis.    🔹 Data and Client Acquisition: Harnessing WeCom, Galeries Lafayette is now acquiring 100 new clients every week, engaging THOUSANDS of customers, and guiding them on personalized retention journeys.    This approach not only strengthens existing client relationships but also opens doors to new client acquisition!    🔹 Prospect Acquisition: WeCom clienteling also enhances their ability to capture prospects, representing future growth, and provides NEWFOUND REVENUE PREDICTABILITY.    Nicolas’ experience shows that nurturing 100 prospects typically leads to 20 potential transactions within three months max., representing a 20% INCREASE in future sales.    🔥 As China’s retail landscape transforms— with a surplus of in-city shopping malls and the government halting new mall licenses, reminiscent of the 'Retail Armageddon' seen in Japan in the 2000s and the US in the mid-2010s, “it’s a crisis without a playbook, and some store closures are inevitable”. This means intensifying competition for attracting brands and clients. As Nicolas puts it, “Ultimately, the primary focus for survival and success is CLIENT ENGAGEMENT.” 💬 For more secret recipes to win in China’s competitive landscape from Nicolas and other market experts, GRAB A COPY of ITC Insights Vol.1 whitepaper. DM me or download here: https://lnkd.in/eyw-a3hv #GaleriesLafayette #China #WeCom #Clienteling #CRM Image source: Groupe Galeries Lafayette

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🎨THE ART AND THE PERFUME🔬 What makes a perfume launch “successful”? I have helped several brands to enter the fragrance market and expand their audience (and increase their revenue of course) and I couldn’t be more grateful for this journey! So what are the secret ingredients for creating a successful scent? 🌈Creativity and Originality💎 In our ever-challenging, changing and extremely competitive industry, you want to make sure the perfume has a story behind it, and ideally, a perfumer. Launching off-the-shelf fragrances will most likely guarantee your demise. Don’t underestimate your consumers. Collaborating with an independent perfumer and having a bespoke fragrance created for your brand is the way to go these days - because you guessed it. People adore creativity and that is also how you stand out from competition. ⚜️Quality and Consistency⛓️ Need I stress this more? Use quality ingredients and eco-conscious yet captivating packaging, in accordance with your brand ethos. Working with an honest perfumer means that quality and fragrance creation will be consistent. ⏰Time and Passion❤️ Don’t rush the perfumer! I get it - you are super excited and time is of the essence, as we want to hit the market at the right time. But a rushed art will get you nowhere, so allow enough time for the artist to create… and work their olfactory magic, as they transform your idea into a unique perfume. 🧧Bonus! One thing that I have learnt working as an independent perfumer is that a perfume is ultimately a product. Like with almost every other product, every perfume has its own audience and particular demographic. Age, sex, demographic region, seasonality are just a few of the variants we want to consider, to give your fragrance launch the best chance of becoming super successful. 💁🏼‍♂️Feel inspired? Get in touch with me today to discuss how I can create your first or your next best-selling fragrance✨ #perfume #branding #perfumer

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Adoption of artificial intelligence solutions by luxury goods houses is set to accelerate over the next 12–24 months, according to the latest report by Bain & Company in partnership with Comité Colbert, the trade association for the French luxury industry.

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Is it time to ditch the hospital Gown? or at least reduce their use? Two, four, eight hours on an A&E Trolley? Exposure, made of poly cotton, flame retardant? (toxic) certainly not designed for the "Patient". How does our new Patient Clothing differ ? - All access is to the front of the body allowing access for examination and care - No access points on pressure bearing areas - Designed to work around medical devices saving on nursing time - Designed to make life easier for carers - Choice of fasteners to promote independence in our ageing population - Facilitates mobility post op reducing risk of post op complications - Promotes wellbeing and ownership of care - Made of sustainably sourced cotton - Nightwear range can be washed on high temperatures for infection control - Our children's pyjama range have been hospital approved via Infection Control Check out our recent research here at Brunel University, London on the time savings for healthcare staff and carers. https://lnkd.in/g3a5b-xJ #patientexperience #accessibility #dignity #nursingcare #empower

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