LVMH is elevating its relationship with Central Saint Martins for 2017.
After six years of working together, the multinational luxury conglomerate and leading design school are launching a new program. Dubbed LVMH & Central Saint Martins “Sustainability & Innovation in Luxury | Fostering Creativity,” the program will promote creativity, highlight up-and-coming talent, and develop disruptive solutions for innovation and sustainability in the luxury industry.
As consumers and technology continue to drive changes, the program could boost the luxury industry in upcoming years. To tackle this evolution, the program contains four key pillars—a sustainability research fund and academic program, the LVMH Grand Prix Scholarship for five talented students, joint projects between LVMH and students and on-campus recruitment.
On May 4, LVMH and Central Saint Martins held an inauguration for the program. During the event, students at CSM’s London campus had the opportunity to meet business, creative and human resources teams from 14 LVMH, including Céline, Kenzo and Nicholas Kirkwood. Students also had the opportunity to present their portfolios and attend workshops on LVMH career opportunities.
Following networking meetings, LVMH and CSM introduced the new CSM LVMH director of sustainable innovation Carole Collet. Collet, who is currently a professor in Design for Sustainable Futures and the founder of the Design and Living Systems Lab at CSM, will helm the program and develop a curriculum to foster eco-conscious initiatives and projects between CSM and LVMH.
The event also held a panel discussion to discuss the partnership’s future and potential approaches for the luxury industry. Panelists included LVMH group managing director Toni Belloni, LVMH EVP human resources and synergies Chantal Gaemperle, head of CSM and pro vice-chancellor UAL Jeremy Till, and CSM dean of academic programs Anne Smith.
“Central Saint Martins offers open, safe ground for experimentation and disruption. LVMH brings an embedded set of knowledge and experience of how you turn innovation into a reality,” head of Central Saint Martins Jeremy Till said. “This is an amazing opportunity for these two organizations to engage with issues of innovation and sustainability.”