Illustration of Lanvin's Alber Elbaz
The French government has selected a number of fashion personalities during its Easter honors on March 27.
Among those who received distinguished honors from the French government were Alber Elbaz, the former creative director of Lanvin, and Hermès CEO Axel Dumas. The French Legion of Honor was first established by Napoleon Bonaparte in May 1802 and is the highest decoration bestowed in the country, awarded for both military and civil merits.
Exemplary citizens
Mr. Elbaz, who was born in Morocco and raised in Israel, was promoted from Knight to Officer by the Legion of Honor. The former creative director’s new honor of Officer is the highest distinction a civilian can achieve. Mr. Elbaz was honored as Knight in 2006.
In October it was announced that Mr. Elbaz was exiting Lanvin after a 14-year tenure due directional tensions with the house’s owner Shaw-Lan Wang, which resulted in his unexpected dismissal (see story).
Alber Elbaz, former creative director at Lanvin
Despite his abrupt departure, Mr. Elbaz has been credited with reviving the house of Lanvin, the oldest French atelier still in operation, and bringing its aesthetic back to life after years of stagnation.
Moving up the ranks of the Legion of Honor’s civilian merits was also French fashion designer Agnès Troublé, better known by the name of her label, Agnès b.
Ms. Troublé rose in position from Officer to Commander of the order. She was made a Knight in 2000 and was promoted to Officer in 2009.
The new additions to France’s Legion of Honor included French leather goods house Hermès’ Mr. Dumas. The house of Hermès was established by Mr. Dumas' great-great-great paternal grandfather, Thierry Hermès.
Under Mr. Dumas’ direction, Hermès has seen its largest growth in decades, increasing by 8.1 percent in 2015.