Didier Grumbach, one of the most influential men in fashion, is resigning from his role of president of the Fédération Française de la Couture, du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Mode and of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. (Fédération Française & Chambre Syndicale are the governing bodies of the French fashion industry)
The 77 year old pioneer has played a key role in discovering young designers and creating fashion houses, including our very own Manish Arora. According to WWD, his position will officially be taken over in September by Ralph Toledano (former chairman of Chloé) who will be assisted by Stéphane Wargnier (fashion consultant and former director of communication at Hermès)
Didier Grumbach’s contribution to the fashion industry is unquestionable. He is one of the key influencers in the growth of ready-to-wear fashion and responsible for bridging trade gaps between the east and the west. He frequented emerging fashion industries like India and China. In 2007, Grumbach selected Indian 3 designers – Manish Arora, Rajesh Pratap Singh and Anamika Khanna to show their collection at Paris Fashion Week. In an interview with Verve India, Didier quoted, ”Each time that a country emerges so strongly onto the scene, it changes fashion forever. India comes with a very clear message of peace, of femininity and of colour. Very few people realise that there is an expression of fashion which can only come from India but is not necessarily Indian”