LVMH Fashion Group chairman and CEO Sidney Toledano has been elected for a two-year term as head of France’s Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, following the exit of Ralph Toledano.
A long-standing member of the Chambre Syndicale’s management committee and on the executive committee of its parent organization, Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, Sidney Toledano was named Knight of the French Legion of Honour in 2005 and Officer of the French National Order of Merit in 2011. He was also named an Officer of the Wissam Al-Arch by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco in 2007.
Sidney Toledo is a powerhouse figure on the global fashion landscape. Per BoF, “In his role as chairman and chief executive of Christian Dior as of 1998, Sidney Toledano presided over a period of exponential expansion for the house; over 200 international locations have been opened during his time.
His tenure has also seen a number of turning points for the house, including the departure of John Galliano in 2011, the three-year creative directorship of Raf Simons , and the appointment of the house’s first female creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri . In November 2017, amid a wider executive reshuffle at LVMH, Toledano stepped down from the role and became chairman of the LVMH Fashion Group.” On November 2021, he was elected to the International Board of the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Toledo’s appointment as head of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture comes at a time when sustainability will play a greater role in global Fashion. “You know my attachment to haute couture and the values it embodies. I hereby formally commit myself, as did my predecessor Ralph Toledano [no relation], to defend and promote them” said Sidney Toledano in a statement reported by Yahoo. “We have contributed for many years to the development and excellence of haute couture, and we will continue to do so with conviction and determination.”
Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture
The Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, established in 1868 in Paris, was created to regulate and preserve the standards of French haute couture. Its formation was initiated by Charles Frederick Worth, often considered the father of haute couture, to formalise the exclusive and handcrafted nature of high fashion.
The organisation was founded to protect the artistry and intellectual property of fashion designers and to establish a legal framework for what constitutes haute couture. The Chambre set stringent criteria for membership, including the requirement that fashion designers maintain an atelier in Paris, create custom-fitted garments for private clients, and present collections twice a year.
Throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Chambre Syndicale played a pivotal role in defining haute couture as a luxury art form. It set the groundwork for Paris to become the global epicenter of fashion. Designers like Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent helped shape haute couture’s identity by pushing creative boundaries while adhering to the Chambre’s standards. The mid-twentieth century saw challenges as ready-to-wear fashion gained popularity, threatening the relevance of couture. However, the Chambre adapted by embracing international members and expanding its global influence. It also fostered partnerships with artisanal ateliers, known as métiers d’art, to sustain the craftsmanship integral to haute couture.
Today, the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture is a guardian of luxury fashion and artistic excellence. It ensures that the traditions of couture—such as bespoke tailoring, hand-craftsmanship, and innovation—are preserved. Haute couture collections, showcased during Paris Haute Couture Week, serve as a platform for creative expression and influence trends in ready-to-wear and luxury markets.
Membership in the Chambre is a prestigious honour, with names like Chanel, Dior, and Givenchy continuing to uphold its legacy. The organisation also supports emerging fashion designers through initiatives like the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, ensuring haute couture’s relevance and sustainability in contemporary fashion.
Jasmeen Dugal is Associate Editor at FashionABC, contributing her insights on fashion, technology, and sustainability. She brings with herself more than two decades of editorial experience, working for national newspapers and luxury magazines in India.
Jasmeen Dugal has worked with exchange4media as a senior writer contributing articles on the country’s advertising and marketing movements, and then with Condenast India as Net Editor where she helmed Vogue India’s official website in terms of design, layout and daily content. Besides this, she is also an entrepreneur running her own luxury portal, Explosivefashion, which highlights the latest in luxury fashion and hospitality.
