Simon Porte Jacquemus to Receive Neiman’s Innovation Award
For his “revolutionary” approach to brand building, Simon Porte Jacquemus, founder and creative director of Jacquemus, will receive the 2024 Neiman Marcus Award for Innovation in the Field of Fashion.
In revealing the award, Neiman’s credited Jacquemus for “distinct show presentation, marketing and merchandising” and cited the larger-than-life Jacquemus handbag-cars seen zipping through the streets of Paris last spring, his fall 2023 show set against the grandeur of the Palace of Versailles and the ephemeral “Jacquemus 24/24” vending machine pop-ups. His latest show, “Les Sculptures,” presented an unusual perspective on fashion as art, Neiman’s noted.
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“Simon is a once-in-a-generation innovator whose vision, design skills, and business prowess have resulted in one of fashion’s most imaginative brands that has quickly resonated with our customers,” Geoffroy van Raemdonck, chief executive officer of the Neiman Marcus Group, said in a statement.
“Simon has built a powerful brand rooted in French spirit with stunning fashion that intimately connects with his engaged brand loyalists,“ added Lana Todorovich, chief merchandising officer of Neiman Marcus. “His talent for design and storytelling, coupled with his ability to be both playful and luxurious in his design, has captured the attention of our new luxury clients.”
In 2023, Neiman Marcus revived its annual awards program after a six-year hiatus, and expanded it with two new categories — innovation and creative impact — in addition to continuing the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion. The award program was originated 87 years ago by the late, legendary Neiman Marcus impresario Stanley Marcus along with Carrie Marcus Neiman.
As previously reported, Maria Grazia Chiuri, creative director of women’s haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories collections for Dior, will receive the distinguished service award, and Daniel Roseberry, creative director for Schiaparelli, will receive the creative impact award. The three 2024 award recipients will be honored during Paris Fashion Week on March 3 at the Ritz Paris.
“I am really happy to receive the Neiman Marcus Award. It’s a beautiful recognition for the brand and my team,” Jacquemus said in a statement. “As an independent designer, I was always keen on being innovative and creative in the design of my collections and also in my communication. It’s always about communicating and creating experiences with our community in a unique way. Jacquemus was always supported by the American market, and especially Neiman Marcus since many years.”
The Dallas-based Neiman Marcus started carrying handbags by Jacquemus in spring 2022 and has since grown its business with the French brand. Neiman’s plans to increase the brand’s points of distribution significantly over the next two years, including launching Jacquemus men’s ready-to-wear this summer. In addition, Jacquemus will develop “an exclusive expression of the brand for Neiman Marcus customers.” Neiman’s indicated that it is currently Jacquemus’ largest U.S. distributor.
Neiman’s award program is intended to strengthen the retailer’s partnerships with luxury designers and brands, generate greater business with them, and gain an edge on competitors such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom, which is particularly important in the current climate of softening luxury sales. The program can increase a designer’s distribution across NMG’s three selling channels — stores, e-commerce and remote selling — and augment NMG’s strategy of “retail-tainment,” which centers on developing innovative special events and activations in stores. Exclusives are typically part of the program.
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