On January 22, expertise was once again in the spotlight on Rue de Valois in Paris. The Comité Colbert, an association representing luxury brands in France, celebrated six artisans and employees from leading luxury brands, who were awarded the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by Minister Rachida Dati.
A champion of French luxury goods on a national and international scale for over seventy years, the Comité Colbert held its grand annual awards ceremony in the opulent surroundings of the Ministry of Culture, located within the historic Palais-Royal in Paris.
In the prestigious Salon des Maréchaux, the ministry’s ceremonial hall, six artisans and employees of major luxury houses (Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin, Christian Dior) and cultural institutions (Château de Fontainebleau, Delisle) were elevated to the rank of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. This task fell to the current mistress of the house, Minister of Culture Rachida Dati.
Also present were Bénédicte Epinay, CEO and General Delegate of the Comité Colbert, and Hélène Poulit-Duquesne, CEO of jeweler Boucheron and now Vice President of the French Luxury Association.
Among the manual trades honored that evening were a polisher and a jeweler, putting jewelry in the spotlight, as well as a shoemaker, an artistic fountain maker, and a decorative painter. Among the six personalities decorated was also a familiar figure in French luxury and the LVMH group, Alexandre Boquel.
A passion for craftsmanship
From February 2020 to May 2025, Alexandre Boquel held the position of Director of Métiers d’Excellence at the LVMH group, overseeing all initiatives related to the transmission of craftsmanship and outreach to younger generations, such as the You&ME traveling exhibition.
An engineer by training, he returned to his first love, the Louis Vuitton trunk maker, where he holds a position at the crossroads of innovation and craftsmanship: Senior Vice President of Strategic and Sustainable Sourcing. In 2002, Marc Jacobs brought him into his studio, where he worked alongside designers, artisans, and artists. After Nina Ricci, he moved on to Dior before heading up the Vermont embroidery workshop.
Jewelry arts in the spotlight and the patina of time
Two of the Chevaliers des Arts et des Lettres were involved in the world of jewelry.
Karine Aimable, a polisher at Cartier, has contributed to innovative projects, including the development of new platinum polishing techniques now used in the workshop. Committed to passing on her knowledge, she has trained more than a hundred interns and supported adults in career change and work-study programs.
Chantal Maquaire is Director of Fine Jewelry at the Oteline workshop for Christian Dior Couture. After starting out in workshops in Lyon, she co-founded Oteline in 2003 and developed the workshop’s clientele to include international customers and the major fashion houses of Place Vendôme. A specialist in complex systems and titanium, in 2018 she became the first woman to be named Meilleur Ouvrier de France in jewelry. Since 2022, she has been training artisans and supporting the creation of unique pieces.
In a different field, that of leatherwork, Adrien Crinon has distinguished himself as a shoemaker and bootmaker at Christian Louboutin. Head of the bespoke workshop at the luxury Parisian shoe maker with the scarlet soles, he trained at the Compagnons du Devoir, where he obtained his CAP (vocational training certificate) in shoemaking in 2007 and was named Meilleur Apprenti de France (Best Apprentice in France) by the Fédération française de la cordonnerie (French Shoemaking Federation). After working in traditional shoemaking, he joined Christian Louboutin in 2016.
Artisans of cultural heritage
Also honored was Jean Pierre Lallemand, who was Fountain Master for the Château de Fontainebleau and retired in early 2024. He began his career in 1979 at the Louvre Museum as a high-pressure heating engineer. He then sought to expand his skills in plumbing and locksmithing. In 2002, he joined the Château de Fontainebleau as a master craftsman and became an art technician specializing in fountains. In this capacity, he maintained the fountains and hydraulic networks, coordinated interventions, and oversaw the upkeep of the estate.
For her part, Patricia Loiseau, painter and decorator at Delisle, has 30 years of experience with this prestigious independent company, which specializes in bronze, steel, and wrought iron work. Thanks to her mastery of metals and her keen eye for detail, she ensures the balance of materials in each creation.
A Comité Colbert on all fronts
Founded in 1954, the Comité Colbert, the representative association of French luxury goods, aims to “passionately promote, sustainably develop, and patiently transmit French know-how and creativity to inspire dreams.”
As CEO and General Delegate of the Comité Colbert, Bénédicte Epinay, points out, this ceremony aims to celebrate “the great contribution of luxury artisans to French intangible cultural heritage in general and to the [luxury] industry in particular.” “These artisans represent the best of our history and the guarantee of our future,” she added. She went on to say, “This great craftsmanship that we preserve is fascinating. Along with art, it is the only thing that conveys an emotion that is understandable in all languages.”
“Innovation is not only technological,” emphasized the head of the Comité Colbert, “it can also be in the hand, in the cut, in the assembly, in the development of a finish, or in a tool. And it is precisely the combination of know-how and creative audacity that leads to the most lasting progress. And the robot capable of replacing an agile and expert hand is not about to see the light of day. That’s why it’s so important to celebrate our artisans.”
The event also provides an opportunity to “highlight professions of the future that are sometimes unknown to the general public.” With 35,000 visitors, including 15,000 young people, the Comité Colbert welcomed the success of the exceptional edition of Les Deuxmains du Luxe at the Grand Palais, an event that allowed artisans, major fashion houses, schools, and training centers to showcase their talents and expertise.
In addition, the Comité Colbert is planning the upcoming release of a new study, which will be in line with this year’s theme: the commemoration of 250 years of Franco-American relations. Thus, next May, for the first time in the history of the Comité Colbert, some 60 French luxury houses will present their American archives in New York. With a presence in Paris, New York, and Shanghai, the Comité also plans to set up shop in 2026 in Riyadh, Korea, Japan, India, and Mexico.
Read also > Les Deuxmains du Luxe: French craftsmanship showcased at the Grand Palais
Featured photo: from left to right, Chantal Maquaire; Patricia Loiseau; Karine Aimable; Rachida Dati; Benedicte Epinay – Helene Poulit-Duquesne; Jean-Pierre Lallemand; Adrien Crinon; Alexandre Boquel – Presentation of the Arts and Letters insignia. Ministry of Culture – Paris – France – January 22, 2026 © David Atlan/Comité Colbert
