The international fashion, photography, and accessories festival in Hyères, France, commenced with an extraordinary sense of excitement. Celebrating its 38th edition, this venerable festival, known as the world’s oldest emerging designer competition, has revitalized its legacy. Additionally, the event commemorates the centenary of Villa Noailles, which will serve as the festival’s home until Sunday, October 15.
A diverse and enthusiastic crowd, including trend-setters, students, luxury industry representatives, decision-makers, locals, and neighbors, gathered on a hill overlooking Hyères on a late Thursday afternoon. They congregated in the forecourt of Villa Noailles, an elegant modernist building that, a century ago, became a hub for avant-garde art and culture. It hosted gala evenings, meetings, and performances sponsored by philanthropists Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles, the villa’s owners.
The centenary celebration prompted deep reflections on the next 100 years for this iconic venue and the festival. «The idea is to continue in the footsteps of this visionary couple. Freedom to create, to think, and to be welcoming must be the blueprint for the next 100 years,» explained Pascale Mussard, who chairs the Festival alongside founder Jean-Pierre Blanc. They officially inaugurated the event on Thursday.
Mussard emphasized the critical importance of preserving diversity, openness toward youth, and the spirit of creativity. She underscored the value of visionary freedom, especially in today’s dynamic world. «Culture, young talents, innovation, and resistance are of utmost importance. These elements are in danger of disappearing rapidly. We are determined to preserve this visionary freedom,» she added.
The opening ceremony witnessed the presence of local authorities, event sponsors and partners, Pascal Morand (President of the French Fashion and Haute Couture Federation), and the presidents of the competition’s three juries: Charles de Vilmorin (fashion category), Alan Crocetti (accessories category), and Luis Alberto Rodriguez (photography category).
Charles de Vilmorin, at the age of just 26, expressed his excitement and emotional connection to the event. «It’s my first time at the Hyères Festival. I applied for it three, four years ago, but I wasn’t selected. Becoming the jury president is surreal. It’s a dream come true,» he shared. Vilmorin views his role on the jury as more of a dialogue than a competition, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and appreciating all participants.
Jean-Pierre Blanc, the festival’s founder, highlighted the essence of youth in such events. «All festivals should be based on youth. Do we need to be young to be generous? Well, it’s evident here,» he commented. The festival radiates freshness and contagious energy everywhere, from the gardens to the renovated villa, which now radiates new life. It stands ready to welcome the next generations of designers and creatives.
