Simon Porte Jacquemus wants to remain independent

French designer Simon Porte Jacquemus isn’t featuring with his label on the Parisian calendar, but his presence was noted during Paris Fashion Week. On Thursday, he attended the presentation of the LVMH Prize semi-finalists, and on Saturday he was at his label’s headquarters, where he was awarded the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (a knighthood of the arts and literature) by Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue USA, in the presence of Dior’s CEO Delphine Arnault.
 

Porte Jacquemus’s media exposure alongside LVMH sparked fresh rumours about the possibility that the world’s number one luxury group might acquire, or at least buy a stake, in his label. In a conversation at the LVMH Prize presentation, Porte Jacquemus confirmed to FashionNetwork.com that he wants to remain independent, and he also denied rumours that he might become the creative director of a major maison.
 
He reaffirmed that he wishes to focus on his own label’s growth. Last December, Jacquemus’s CEO Bastien Daguzan left the company, and Porte Jacquemus took operational control, as well as acting as creative director. He told FashionNetwork.com that he has “plenty to do” and he doesn’t “need to look elsewhere.” Besides, Jacquemus is keen to expand its direct retail network.

In September 2022, the label opened its first Parisian store on avenue Montaigne, initially presented as a temporary project but now a permanent fixture, and further openings are on the cards. “We’re planning to open in London and New York,” said Porte Jacquemus. In London, the label is set to open this year at 33 New Bond Street.
 
Another project is the anniversary show for Jacquemus’s 15th anniversary, which will be staged on June 10 in Capri at the famous Villa Malaparte, where Jean-Luc Godard filmed his 1963 movie Contempt, starring Brigitte Bardot and Michel Piccoli.

In 2022, Jacquemus, topped the €200 million revenue mark, and is expected to reach €280 million in 2023, according to estimates by independent news publisher Glitz Paris.