On April 28, the Comité Colbert is hosting a webinar offering a behind-the-scenes look at the French luxury industry. The association representing the French luxury sector has also just released a survey on the connections between Americans and French luxury, ahead of the exhibition “Hidden Treasures, 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories,” which will take place next May in New York.
Want to learn all about the secrets of French luxury? On April 28, the Comité Colbert, the association bringing together key players in the French luxury sector, will host a webinar exploring the inner workings of this industry.
From 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, experts from leading fashion houses and creative institutions will take the stage to discuss the global influence of French luxury.
These sessions will begin with a presentation by Bénédicte Épinay, General Delegate of the Comité Colbert and Alexis Mourot, CEO of the Christian Louboutin shoe house. Together, they will explore how and why luxury companies think collectively to make their mark.
Other aspects of the industry will then be explored. For instance, the conference on the balance between heritage, creativity, and a company’s appeal will be presented by Hélène Poulit-Duquesne, CEO of Boucheron. The way tradition inspires French creativity will be highlighted by Cyrille Vigneron, Director of Philanthropy and Culture at Cartier and by Priscilla Royer, Artistic Director of Maison Michel.
The afternoon will also feature a presentation on the institutional model of French luxury companies by Olivier Gabet, Director of the Department of Decorative Arts at the Louvre Museum. The enduring influence of Paris Fashion Week on the international scene will be addressed by Pascal Morand, Executive President of the French Federation of Couture and Séverine Merle, CEO of Maison Celine.
This series of presentations will continue with a discussion on the integration of new technologies with tradition led by Gonzague de Pirey, Director of Omnichannel and Data at LVMH and Joëlle de Montgolfier, Vice President of Consumer Goods, Retail, and Luxury at Bain & Company. This will be followed by a presentation on corporate environmental responsibility featuring Pierre-Alexandre Bapst, Director of Sustainable Development at the Hermès Group and Laurence Barrère, Director of Sustainable Finance at Kering.
French luxury remains highly sought after
The webinar will conclude with remarks by Maud Alvarez-Pereyre, Director of Human Resources at the LVMH Group, and Donna Jean, Vice President of Human Resources at the Richemont Group Americas. They will discuss the qualities required of candidates who wish to join a French luxury house.
In conjunction with the exhibition “Hidden Treasures, 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories,” the presentation of a study conducted between August 2025 and January 2026 by the American consulting firm The Heart Monitors revealed a “deep emotional connection to France” among 600 American consumers aged 18 to 60 who had purchased French products, according to the Comité Colbert.
“For this audience, ‘Frenchness’ is not perceived as an unattainable ideal, but as an accessible form of sophistication that enriches their daily lives,” stated the association of luxury industry players.
According to the survey, 46% of American consumers stated that their perception of French products remained unchanged despite the tariff increases implemented by Donald Trump.
“France remains the country whose products are most considered ‘worth buying’ (61% favorable opinions), closely followed by Italy (57%),” stated the Comité Colbert, adding that “these results suggest that economic pressure is leading more to marginal reflection than to outright rejection or a weakening of consumer desire.”
Register for the webinar by clicking here
Read also > Comité Colbert: Franco-American relations have not yet had their final say
Featured Photo: ©️Courtesy of Comité Colbert
