- Don-Alvin Adegeest
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The pillars of the French fashion industry, indeed global industry, have
pledged financial support for the rebuilding of the Notre Dame cathedral,
which was ravaged by fire on Monday evening.
A keen philanthropist, Kering CEO Francois-Henri Pinault and father
Francois Pinault, the founder of the group and the world’s 23rd wealthiest
individual, were the first to confirm a donation, citing 100 million euros
from the group’s Artemis investment company would go toward rebuilding the
cathedral, the company said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg.
“This tragedy is striking all the French people, and beyond that, all those
attached to spiritual values,” Francois-Henri Pinault said in the
statement. “Faced with this tragedy, everyone wishes to give life back to
this jewel of our heritage as soon as possible.”
After Kering’s 100 million euro pledge, LVMH doubled their support
Kering rival LVMH on Tuesday doubled Pinault’s pledge, offering 200 million
euros as well as architectural and design resources. Bernard Arnault CEO
and main shareholder of the Louis Vuitton group which owns and operates
Maisons including Celine, Dior and Fendi said in a statement: the “LVMH
Group will put at the disposal of the state all of its teams — creative,
architectural, financial — to help on the one hand with the long
construction work, and on the other hand with the fundraising effort.”
French President Emmanuel Macron has asked the international community to
help rebuild the monumental Notre Dame Cathedral, for which an estimated
cost has not yet been given, calling on the world’s “greatest talents” to
help.
There was an outpouring of love from the fashion community on Instagram on
Monday, as the tragic fire seized the beloved Cathedral, one of the most
iconic landmarks in Paris. Designers, brands and creatives expressed their
sadness and support to all those impacted.
Photo credit: LVMH homepage
