© ARR

Created in 1979 by Master Blender Maurice Fillioux, Hennessy Paradis cognac is renowned for its elegant and silky style. To underscore the infinitely nuanced and harmonious blend of the elixir, Hennessy has for several years presented it in a signature Paradis decanter. The sleek and elegant design was created by Italian designer Ferrucio Laviani and to celebrate the stunning Paradis decanter, the Maison has launched a memorable campaign, suspended in bliss.

Shot in the sweeping desert of the American West, the film features internationally renowned and multi award-winning artist Alicia Keys — Hennessy’s first female brand ambassador – joined by one of the world’s most influential figures in classical music, Lang Lang. Against the backdrop of the dreamlike desert landscape, the two musical icons showcase a moving harmony of diverse styles and cultures. The majestic imagery and an original poem both elevate the natural beauty of Hennessy Paradis.

With this campaign Hennessy Paradis returns to its inspirational musical beginnings. In creating the unique cognac, symphony lover Maurice Fillioux noted that classical music has the power to transport and connect with emotions. He was a conductor orchestrating his instruments, the rare eaux-de-vie from the legendary Hennessy Cellar. Decades later, music continues to resonate with Hennessy Paradis.

“My idea of bliss is to play music amidst the beauty of nature, the Grand Canyon is the ultimate paradise.” — Lang Lang

“It’s so cool to be able to play together for what it represents. We grew up on different sides of the planet, but we were able to come together and understand each other through harmony, music, passion, and bliss, to create the feeling of “Paradis on Earth.” – Alicia Keys

In an epicurean ode, Alicia Keys and Lang Lang put on an exceptional performance around a poem written by the singer herself:

Aren’t we all chasing bliss?

A paradise of such majestic beauty

no words can fully speak

A mixture of Wonder and blessing

So profound that even sound can’t contain its notes

If time could be suspended in a moment of clarity

We would see that Paradise lives within

A sunrise and sunset of endless dusks and

A river of dawns

Sailing on

Paradis is on earth

In 2006 Dior created “L’Or de Vie”, its most exclusive skincare line, infused with the uniqueness of the legendary Château d’Yquem vineyards.

In 2022, glassmaking artist and sculptor Xavier Le Normand elevates this unique meeting in an extraordinary Métiers d’Art Edition of L’Or de Vie La Crème, a tribute to French luxury and savoir-faire. Plus, to complete this exceptional line, Dior has concentrated the precious active ingredients from Vintage 2021 in a new Le Céremonial treatment, an intensive rejuvenation ritual, available in a limited edition, and revisited the formulations for Le Sérum and La Lotion, increasing the percentage of natural ingredients.

For its cosmetics masterpiece, Dior selected precious sap from Château d’Yquem vines. The active ingredients from the depths of the Yquem soil reveal their potential thanks to Dior science and the art of formulation at its laboratories. The Yquem sap has exceptional antioxidant action. This sap is blended with the “noble ferment” of the grapes, an extract of Botyrtis Cinerea, in the Golden Drop Longevity Technology. Three additional Yquem extracts complete the power of L’Or de Vie: Yquem waxy extract, an aqueous extract of grape marc and an oil extract of grape marc. Together, these five ingredients give L’Or de Vie exceptional effectiveness on the longevity of the skin.

A stunning masterpiece, the Métiers d’Art 2022 Edition of L’Or de Vie La Crème celebrates transmission, heritage and savoir-faire. In choosing Xavier Le Normand to reinterpret its unique cream, Dior celebrates the art of glassmaking. The glass artist and sculptor has conceived a jewel that springs from the alchemy between fire and water, inspired by the beauty of the Château d’Yquem vineyards. For this entirely hand-crafted jewel-like jar, blown glass is polished and set with 1,500 individually engraved points. Reprising the exquisite craft of goldsmiths, each meticulously drawn point evokes the essence of a cluster of grapes. This objet d’art has been crafted in an ultra-exclusive limited series of 130 numbered pieces.

For its 2021 vintage, Dior has reinvented the exclusive ritual L’Or de Vie Le Cérémonial. Three formulations sealed in individual bottles prepare, transform and optimize the skin during a one-month treatment. In an elegant case, the three vials, like three drops of gold, are stamped with the Ancestral Yquem Crown seal. An ultimate union of history and terroir, science and luxury, blended like an Yquem grand cru wine, L’Or de Vie Le Cérémonial is produced in a series of 3,430 numbered pieces.

Dior also revisits two icons in even more natural versions. L’Or de Vie Le Sérum, the Dior elixir of longevity, now has a formula composed of 89% natural ingredients. And L’Or de Vie La Lotion has been reinvented in an eco-formulation with over 98% natural origin ingredients.

Louis Vuitton is delighted to welcome Pharrell Williams as its new Men’s Creative Director, effective immediately. His first collection for Louis Vuitton will be revealed this June during the Men’s Fashion Week in Paris.

Pharrell Williams is a visionary whose creative universes expand from music, to art, and to fashion – establishing himself as a cultural, global icon over the past twenty years. The way in which he breaks boundaries across the various worlds he explores aligns with Louis Vuitton’s status as a Cultural Maison, reinforcing its values of innovation, pioneer spirit and entrepreneurship.

“I am glad to welcome Pharrell back home, after our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new Men’s Creative Director. His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter.” declares Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton’s Chairman and CEO.

Pharrell Williams Biography

Pharrell Williams is a visionary recording artist, producer, songwriter, philanthropist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur with 10B combined global music streams to date. He has been honored with 13 Grammy Awards, including 2004, 2014, and 2019 Producer of the Year, and ASCAP’s Golden Note Award in 2012. He has received two Academy Award nominations for his original song “Happy” (Despicable Me 2) and for Best Picture-nominated Hidden Figures (2016) as co-producer. Williams also received a Golden Globe Nomination for co-scoring the film. In 2019, Williams received an Emmy-nomination for his original song “Letter to My Godfather,” for Netflix’s Black Godfather about legendary music executive Clarence Avant. In 2020, Williams was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his work as The Neptunes.

In 2018, Pharrell narrated Universal’s remake of the classic film The Grinch, authored the book A Fish Doesn’t Know It’s Wet, and released the Netflix Original series Brainchild (2018) with his producing partner, Mimi Valdés. Other projects include Dope (2015), Roxanne Roxanne (2017), Voices of Fire (2020) and Amazon’s Harlem, which has been renewed for a second season and Lena Waithe’s Rollin’ for HBO Max.

In 2019, Pharrell founded YELLOW, a non-profit working to even the odds for all youth through education, helping them realize their potential. In 2020, Williams launched Black Ambition, a non-profit initiative that provides a bridge to success for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs who are launching tech, healthcare, Web 3.0 and consumer products/services start-ups. A longtime advocate against racial injustice, Pharrell was an integral part in talks with Virginia Governor Northam about Juneteenth being a permanent paid state holiday. In April 2019, Williams launched his first SOMETHING IN THE WATER, a multi-day music festival and experience on the beach in his hometown of Virginia Beach. Last summer, Williams brought his SOMETHING IN THE WATER Music festival to Washington D.C. on Juneteenth Weekend (June 17 – 19). This April, SOMETHING IN THE WATER returns to Virginia Beach and will continue its mission spotlighting the community.

Pharrell excels as a fashion designer and entrepreneur with his Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream apparel among other brands. In the fall of 2019, Williams teamed up with David Grutman and opened both Swan and Bar Bevy in Miami’s Design District, and The Goodtime Hotel in 2021. In 2020, Pharrell founded Humanrace™, a product company with a mission to empower all individuals in their pursuit of wellbeing across product and people.

A longtime advocate against racial injustice, Pharrell was an integral part in the talks with Virginia Governor Ralph Northam about Juneteenth being a permanent paid state holiday and continued to make the push for it to become a national holiday.

© Photo Boby

The “You and ME” tour kicked off in Paris at the Palais Brongniart, with three times as many job offers in 2023 at LVMH Maisons, sending a strong signal to young people eager to begin exciting careers in LVMH Métiers d’Excellence professions, as well as those interested in reskilling. Chantal Gaemperle, LVMH Group Executive Vice President Human Resources and Synergies, welcomed the numerous attendees at the inaugural event, joined by Olivier Klein, Minister of Cities and Housing, and LVMH Métiers d’Excellence ambassador Tony Parker.

“Our uniquely-skilled métiers are actively seeking future talents! LVMH Maisons have huge recruiting needs in everything from leather goods and jewelry to retail, hotels and much more. The first edition of “You and ME” in 2022 was a tremendous success. Now we’re setting out again to connect with both young generations and people with reskilling plans throughout France, offering over 3,500 jobs to be filled in 2023 across the country. We want to inspire true vocations in highly-skilled métiers that promise wonderful careers. I’m absolutely delighted to have Tony Parker with us again this year as ambassador of the event,” said Chantal Gaemperle, LVMH Group Executive Vice President Human Resources and Synergies.

“The Tony Parker Academy and LVMH’s Métiers d’Excellence share a commitment to inspiring vocations and passion among young people. We share the same values. Young people have no idea of the many different professions that are open to them. I love telling them: “If nobody laughs at your dreams, it’s because you’re not dreaming big enough!” emphasized Tony Parker, founder of the Tony Parker Academy.

Upon entering the venue, visitors took a deep dive into the amazing savoir-faire practiced at LVMH Maisons, thanks to workshops led by artisans with a tangible passion for their métiers. Louis Vuitton demonstrated the craft of trunkmaking, while Le Bon Marché hosted a snakes and ladders game to show the distinctive selling codes at the renowned department store. Celine invited people to try their hand at complex stitches executed to tailor a garment, and Cheval Blanc Paris presented ultra-refined arts de la table’. These demonstrations provided attendees with a firsthand look at some of the unique skills practiced, including a chance to put questions to the craftspeople. There were also virtual reality headsets to experience a day in the life of a leatherworker at Moynat, a sales associate at Louis Vuitton, or a baker at La Grande Épicerie de Paris. All these experiences are designed to spark the kind of curiosity that lets people imagine themselves practicing one of these exceptional métiers.

To continue further along the orientation path, visitors were able to take part in coaching workshops with human resources teams from LVMH Maisons. With tips on writing résumés and application letters, as well as prepping for a job interview, participants were encouraged to take their vocational plans to the next level. At the end of the visit, attendees were invited to a Job Dating corner with numerous job offers featured on tablets, where they could leave their résumé in a special mailbox. Another innovation for this year’s edition is “You & ME la Prépa”, a free online training course that lets people learn more about the many métiers available across the LVMH Group and prepare their application.

Following the French dates, the “You and ME” fair will visit three cities in Italy, starting with Florence on April 15th.