The 40th Hyères Festival opened on Thursday with palpable enthusiasm

The atmosphere on the esplanade of Villa Noailles was effervescent, with a packed crowd delighted to gather again this year at the Hyères International Fashion, Photography and Accessories Festival. However, this essential event for fashion and emerging talent had been threatened by a serious budget crisis. The relief and determination to do everything possible to make this 40th edition a success was palpable among the audience.

On the roof of the imposing rationalist building hosting the event on the heights of Hyères, in the Var, a flag with a multicolored sun flies. The flag was designed by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, who is part of the jury of the Fashion contest. He is together with the other jurors and institutional representatives on the new stage installed in the garden for the opening ceremony, with another large rainbow sun as a backdrop. This new arrangement, which moves away from the usual ritual at the entrance of the villa, gently signals the transition.

“This sun represents what the Villa Noailles is: dream, creation… It is the sun that will celebrate this 40th edition,” declared Pascale Mussard, president of the institution, the first to speak on Thursday night, thanking “all the people who make the Festival possible.”

The mayor of Hyères, Jean-Pierre Giran, did the same and thanked, not without some emotion, all those present. “There are many of you here and that is the most important thing, to demonstrate your commitment to this project of creativity, modernity and youth,” he told the attendees.

“This festival project is unique, above all for its scope and its longevity,” underlines Hugo Lucchino, new general director of the Villa Noailles art center, which oversees not only the famous competition for young designers, but also other events such as the Design Parade.

After taking office just a few days ago, he pays tribute to his predecessor, Jean-Pierre Blanc, emblematic founder of the Festival. The mayor and Pascal Morand, executive president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, also pay tribute.

Before officially declaring the Festival open, Lucchino thanked the partners who have stepped forward at this crucial moment for Villa Noailles for “their unconditional support.” These include local institutional partners and the French Ministry of Culture, as well as private sponsors such as Chanel, Le 19M, LVMH, Hermès, Supima, Kering, American Vintage and Première Classe, to name just a few.

Support for creativity

“I am very happy, I feel that there is an incredible energy. You can see that everyone is totally in agreement. We all want it to continue, because it is a great festival,” said designer Lutz Huelle, who was part of the jury in 2015. “We are witnessing a kind of 'restart'. The fact that this year there is no president of the jury, but only fashion professionals, is a good idea, because Hyères is, above all, a festival for young designers and students”.

Mauro Grimaldi, a luxury sector consultant who has been attending the event for thirty years, reiterated the importance of supporting events of this type.

“Everyone talks about money, but it is crucial to support independent creativity, because the young talent it generates is what feeds the fashion industry. That is why this is a key edition,” he concluded.