Designer Agnès B. receives the French Legion of Honor

French designer Agnès Troublé, better known as Agnès B., received the French Legion of Honor from President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday night for creative achievements and humanitarian initiatives achieved through her eponymous brand.

The prestigious award, born under the reign of Napoleon and described as France's highest level of recognition, is awarded to those who have demonstrated outstanding merit in the service of the nation, in a military or civilian capacity.

The Versailles designer founded Agnès B. in 1973 and achieved great success by offering garments marked by the Parisian seal of elegant simplicity. With almost fifty years of existence, the brand now has 300 stores around the world and has been worn by musical icons such as David Bowie and Patti Smith.

If his creative triumph was an outstanding factor in his receiving the French distinction, so was his philanthropy and support for humanitarian and solidarity initiatives. His endowment foundation, called « Agnès Troublé says agnès b. », It works with between 25 and 40 associations and NGOs each year, helping on a wide range of issues ranging from literacy and child protection to the reception of immigrants and refugees, as well as access to water and healthcare and support for isolated women.

The multifaceted designer is also recognized as an art aficionado. In 2020, he created “La Fab”, a 1,400 square meter gallery in the 13ème arrondissement of Paris, which houses his collection of almost 5,000 works of art, as well as a library.

As a long tradition demands, it is the French Head of State, Emmanuel Macron, who presents the decorative medal (an insignia in the shape of six-armed maltese asterisk) to the couturier, accompanied by an emotional speech: “For this commitment to others, to France and its creative forces, to what you have contributed over the last five decades, not only to French fashion, but also to beauty, to taste, to so many artists, to the battles you have fought. This afternoon, I am happy and proud, dear Agnès, to elevate you to the dignity of Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit.”

As the new winner of this award, Agnès B. joins the ranks of other prominent fashion figures such as Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent and Maria Grazia Chiuri.