Latest news with #CyrilleVigneron
CNA
27-05-2025
- General
- CNA
Osaka World Expo 2025: The Cartier Women's Pavilion champions a powerful message for gender equality
Walking through the grounds of the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, one can't help but notice an intriguing pavilion with a Kumiko-inspired facade, standing prominently beside the Japan pavilion. This lattice-like structure houses the Women's Pavilion, crafted by French luxury house Cartier in collaboration with the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition and the Japanese government, including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office. This powerful space conveys the message that 'when women thrive, humanity thrives'. It unites impactful architecture with a curated collection of stories, vital data, and transformative dialogue, aiming to drive global change for gender equality and spotlighting the important role of women in shaping a better tomorrow. Women's empowerment is a core pillar of Cartier's corporate social responsibility efforts. In 2006, the maison launched the Cartier Women's Initiative, which supports and champions women impact entrepreneurs. 'At Cartier, women have always been a source of endless inspiration and a cornerstone of the maison's creativity and values. For this reason, Cartier has been fully committed to supporting women empowerment through several long-lasting initiatives,' said Cyrille Vigneron, Cartier's former CEO and current chairman of culture and philanthropy, in an email interview with CNA Luxury. 'From the Cartier Women's Initiative to Cartier Philanthropy, the maison champions women changemakers, who are catalyst for social progress, helping them to scale their efforts, thrive in their pursuits and pave the way for generations to come," Vigneron added. The Women's Pavilion in Osaka is the second of its kind and runs till Oct 13. The first Women's Pavilion was presented by Cartier at Expo 2020 in Dubai. 'The World Expo, as a powerful global platform, provides Cartier with a unique opportunity to share its commitment to women's empowerment. Over the six months of the Expo, millions of visitors will come to Osaka and experience the Women's Pavilion and hopefully carry its message far beyond the Expo itself,' Vigneron commented. AN ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL The pavilion is designed by Japanese architect Yuko Nagayama. In a nod to sustainability, its Kumiko-inspired facade is repurposed from the Japan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. The structure honours traditional Japanese craftsmanship, incorporating over 7,000 individual components, each carefully hand-assembled without the use of a single nail or hammer. The facade will be given a third life after the Osaka Expo. It will be reused as the main stage structure of the Green Expo in Yokohama in 2027. As the Women's Pavilion is situated on a narrow lot, Nagayama drew inspiration from the traditional 'machiya' townhouses of Kyoto, known for their depth and integration with nature. She translated this by interspersing the space with greenery through the incorporation of gardens and courtyards within, creating serene spaces that offer respite and invite contemplation. Embracing the principles of the circular economy, the pavilion's gardens feature trees temporarily relocated from the mountains around Osaka. In a poetic gesture, they will be returned to their natural habitat following the conclusion of the Expo. AN IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION Inside the pavilion, visitors are invited to go on an immersive, multi-sensory journey led by an audio guide. The experience is curated by Es Devlin, an acclaimed contemporary artist and the pavilion's global artistic lead. Arriving through the entrance garden, guests are first invited to say their name into a mirror, a simple yet profound gesture that is meant to allow them to add their own voice to the pavilion. The doors then open into the next room, where visitors will watch a short film created by Devlin and film director Naomi Kawase. The film shares the story of three women from three different continents – Emtithal Mahmoud, a Sudanese American poet, activist and scientist, renowned Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto, and Xiye Bastida, a Mexican climate activist. At the end of the sequence, the film splits to form three oval apertures, and through the audio guide, guests are called by their name to enter one of them, where they will follow the stories of one of the three women. (To discover the stories of the other women, guests will have to re-enter the pavilion). Each path culminates at the "Ma" room, which in Japanese means a pause or an interval. Here, guests are invited to take a moment for reflection. Light penetrates the space through an oval aperture onto a dark oval table, whose surface is made of water scattered with black pebbles. The journey continues on to the Puzzle Box, a series of spaces that unfold like a Japanese puzzle box. This space presents facts and data in relation to gender equality across the globe, gathered by UN Women and the Gender Snapshot 2024. It's a sobering perspective on both the progress of gender equality and the challenges still to come. For example, climate change is further exacerbating inequality, with projections showing that by 2050, up to 158 million more women and girls could be pushed into extreme poverty. The experience ends with a room titled Your Hand, which showcases the voices of multiple activists who are working towards improving the lives of women globally. These include Emma Hosoi, a 14-year-old social entrepreneur from Japan raising awareness on marine conservation and biodiversity; Shani Dhanda, a social entrepreneur and disability advocate from the UK; Xintong Du, the founder of an affordable speech therapy platform from China; Anastasia Yeva Domani, a transgender rights activist from Ukraine; Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, a renowned Japanese actress, author and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and more. Each activists holds an oval aperture, and guests are invited to place their hand within each opening to receive a personal message from the activist, with words projected in light onto their hand. A SPACE FOR DIALOGUE Walking up the stairs to the second floor, guests will discover an artistic exploration curated by French actress and filmmaker Melanie Laurent. Laurent collaborated with Japanese artist Hiro Chiba to create Whispers on Leaves, a series of works that combine digital photography with Chiba's unique chlorograph technique, which infuses images with chlorophyll. Leaning into one of the artworks, guests will hear a soundscape composed by Laurent. At the sculpture garden, Laurent created a VR experience that reimagines Shakespeare's Ophelia as a modern figure of resilience and empowerment. The Women's Pavilion is 'more than a physical structure', said Vigneron. It also 'serves as a hub for dialogue and inspiration'. Reflecting this vision, the second floor of the pavilion features the WA (Japanese for harmony or peace) space, which will bring together international leaders, visionaries and experts for conversations and panel discussions on key global challenges around six themes – Mother Nature, Business & Technology, Education & Policy, Arts & Culture, Philanthropy, and Roles & Identities. The dialogues are open to public and visitors are encouraged to attend and participate by registering on the Women's Pavilion's website. Vigneron emphasises that the dialogue sessions aim to 'inspire action and remind visitors that everyone has a role to play in driving positive change'. A COLLABORATIVE VISION The Women's Pavilion was officially inaugurated with an opening ceremony held on May 21 at the Expo Hall with speeches and keynote addresses by Vigneron, June Miyachi, president and CEO of Cartier Japan, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado of Japan, Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and CEO of Expo City Dubai Authority of the UAE and more. Performances included a poetry recitation by JJ Bola, a writer, poet and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. The ceremony culminated in a moving performance that brought together folk singer Anna Sato, Wadaiko drummers, two youth soloists and international and Japanese choirs. They performed an original composition titled The Flower of the Human Heart, which expressed a call for resilience, unity and transformation. The performance embodied Cartier's collaborative spirit in advancing its social and philanthropic causes. When asked how Cartier is doing things differently from other luxury brands in driving positive change, Vigneron shared: 'In an era where luxury brands hold significant influence, Cartier recognises its responsibility to spark actions in driving change. What sets the maison apart is its unwavering belief in the power of collaboration.' 'By partnering with like-minded stakeholders who share its values, the maison actively works to address pressing global challenges and contribute to a more inclusive, durable future, one that resonates with generations to come,' Vigneron continued. In an era where luxury brands hold significant influence, Cartier recognises its responsibility to spark actions in driving change." – Cyrille Vigneron
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Record Attendance At Watches And Wonders, With Tariffs Looming
Watches and Wonders took place in Geneva, Switzerland, April 1 to April 7. Watches and Wonders, the luxury watch trade show held in Geneva April 1-7 was big on numbers this year, at least in terms of attendance and reach. While the mostly elite brands exhibiting launched mostly limited edition or limited production pieces – and in some cases, one-offs, the crowds grew bigger. The fair reports record attendance, with over 55,000 visitors throughout the week, compared to 49,000 last year (+12%), 6,000 retail representatives (+5%), 1,600 journalists (+7), and 23,000 tickets sold on the public days (+21%). Social media posts throughout the fair, using the hashtag #watchesandwonders2025, had an estimated reach of more than 700 million people. In addition to being the most important showcase for watch introductions for the year, Watches and Wonders includes guided tours, workshops, presentations, panel discussions and entertainment events. Watches and Wonders is held at Geneva's Palexpo. 'It really shows the success of our initiative to open the show up to a broader audience, to all demographics,' says Watches and Wonders CEO Matthieu Humair. 'The average age of attendees is 35, so it shows that young people are interested in watches.' The new Oyster Perpetual Rolex Land-Dweller. The show is operated by the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation, a non-profit organization run by a committee of exhibitors. It is chaired by Cyrille Vigneron, the former CEO of Cartier. There are now 60 exhibitors, including Bulgari for the first time this year, joining other LVMH brands Hublot, Zenith, along with several Richemont brands (including Cartier, Piaget, A. Lange & Söhne, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin and Panerai), along with other big marques like Chanel and Hermès. Louis Vuitton and Breitling have yet to sign on, but perhaps the biggest gap on the exhibitor list is the Swatch Group, which includes Breguet, Longines, Omega, Blancpain and Harry Winston. 'There is still room to expand the show physically, and with the hotel capacity in Geneva,' says show chairman Cyrille Vigneron, 'There is room for the Swatch Group. They have been invited, so if they're willing, they're welcome.' Rolex booth at Watches and Wonders Despite the fact that President Donald Trump announced his administration would impose a 31% tax on Swiss exports, including watches, to the U.S. about half way through the show, the outlook was upbeat and optimistic, with plenty of gold, platinum and gem-encrusted watches on display. According to watch industry news site WatchPro, shares for the three major watch groups dropped since the announcement: Richemont, Swatch Group and LVMH shares are down 12.4%, 15.6% and 13.4% respectively. In terms of trends, some watch brands celebrated their heritage with anniversary or tribute editions, while others highlighted their iconic collections. Rolex introduced a new collection, the Land-Dweller, and Piaget introduced a new ladies' collection, the Sixtie. There were perpetual calendars by the score, and plenty of hardstone dials, along with blue dials of every color. Women were in the spotlight, particularly in the jewelry watch segment, and since case sizes are shrinking, there were more watches in general for ladies to choose from. And Bulgari broke a new record for micro-watchmaking, introducing the world's smallest tourbillon in its Octo Finissimo collection.
South China Morning Post
03-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Watches and Wonders 2025: Rolex, Cartier, Patek Philippe shine, but Bulgari and Vacheron Constantin steal the spotlight … with world's thinnest tourbillon timepiece and most complicated wristwatch
Watches and Wonders, the yearly fair currently under way in Geneva, Switzerland, always provides a snapshot of the current state of the luxury watch industry . With market leaders such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Cartier making headlines with their latest launches, and independent brands unveiling their new creations, the event attracts journalists, retailers, collectors and fans, all checking out the booths – some of them quite extravagant – located within Palexpo, a convention centre near the city's airport. Switzerland is still the undisputed leader when it comes to luxury watchmaking, but after years of growth during and after the coronavirus pandemic – when high-end customers unable to travel splurged on timepieces and other costly items – the market contracted in 2024. According to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, Swiss watch exports dropped by 2.8 per cent last year to 25.9 billion Swiss francs (US$29.59 billion), mainly because of a slump of more than 25 per cent in China. A visitor takes a photo at the A. Lange & Söhne stand on the opening day of Watches and Wonders 2025 in Geneva. Photo: EPA-EFE Advertisement While the US and Europe have fared slightly better, China, which includes key markets such as Hong Kong and Macau, has been affected by an economic slowdown caused by a housing crisis and youth unemployment on the mainland. The large number of 'novelties' at Watches and Wonders often causes waiting lists among diehard fans, but expectations for 2025 are not that rosy if the first two months of this year are any indication. While Swiss watch exports grew by 4.1 per cent year on year in January 2025, they declined 8.2 per cent year on year in February, with China and Hong Kong remaining weak. Cyrille Vigneron, president of the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation, says that it is hard to predict what 2025 will bring and that the uncertainty of the last few years has shifted global consumption patterns. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for instance, Russian citizens who moved to Dubai and Istanbul were responsible for a significant rise in luxury spending in those cities, similar to what happened in China during the coronavirus pandemic, when domestic consumption rose because of travel bans that kept the Chinese from shopping abroad. 'The stimulus package that the government has put in place in China will be very important,' says Vigneron in an interview in Geneva. 'I'm quite confident that China will still be a driving force but the question is when and how? It's very difficult to cast a prediction but if the government tries to stimulate domestic consumption and fix the real estate bubble, China will again have a period of growth.' A Rolex display at Watches and Wonders 2025 in Geneva. Photo: AFP Speaking of uncertainty, Vigneron agrees that while the US has been doing very well in recent years – overtaking China as the largest market for watches – the protectionist policies of the Trump administration are now sowing doubts about the resilience of its luxury consumers. One thing that most can agree on is that the watch industry has become very polarised, with a small number of independent manufacturers – and big groups such as Cartier owner Richemont and Omega owner Swatch Group – dominating the market. According to a report from Morgan Stanley and consultancy LuxeConsult, the so-called 'Big Four' (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille) are 'capturing an impressive aggregated 47 per cent market share'. While it's too early to find out what the response to this year's fair will be – the event will open to the public over the weekend – the mood was buoyant. Both Vigneron and Matthieu Humair, CEO of the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation, confirmed that registration numbers have been higher than in previous years.
New York Times
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Cartier to Stage Second Women's Pavilion at Osaka Expo 2025
Building on its debut at Expo 2020 Dubai, Cartier plans to introduce its second Women's Pavilion next month at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, an event bringing together countries, organizations and businesses from around the world. This year, 165 national pavilions, along with various corporate ones, are to participate in the six-month exhibition, scheduled to open April 13. But Cartier's pavilion, developed in collaboration with the Japanese government, will be the only one dedicated to women. 'The Women's Pavilion celebrates all women, without a political or religious angle,' Cyrille Vigneron, the chair of Cartier Culture and Philanthropy initiative, said in a phone interview from Geneva. 'Women's issues are universal.' The exhibition is to be held on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay, through Oct. 13. The expo's theme is 'Designing Future Society for Our Lives,' so sustainable design and craftsmanship are being highlighted. Mr. Vigneron cited gender inequality as a key reason for doing a second edition of the pavilion, emphasizing that progress on women's issues remains uneven globally. 'Since Dubai, we have seen some advances in women's rights and empowerment, while many countries have regressed,' he said, referring to the exhibition in 2020. 'On reproductive rights, the U.S. has taken a step back. In Iran and Afghanistan, women's access to basic education is denied. Japan has a low ranking of 120th out of 140 countries in gender equality.' The metallic facade of this year's Women's Pavilion first appeared on the Japan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Originally designed and now reworked by the Japanese architect Yuko Nagayama, its intricate latticework was inspired by kumiko, a traditional Japanese woodworking technique that does not use nails. 'My focus was not simply reusing the materials but striving for a different expression and beauty from the previous building,' Ms. Nagayama wrote in an email. 'The kumiko-inspired facade acts as an environmental device, like a great tree in a vast forest, protecting not only human beings but also the trees from the harsh environment of climate change.' Several designers and artists have been involved in the pavilion project, including Chitose Abe, the founder of the fashion brand Sacai, who designed the khaki gender-neutral uniforms for the pavilion attendants, and Toshiya Ogino, a landscape designer, who created a garden of local vegetation. The pavilion's interior was conceived 'as a kind of musical instrument or radio station, broadcasting its messages through time and place,' Es Devlin, the English designer who is the pavilion's art director, wrote in an email. As visitors enter, they will be invited to say their names, making their identity part of the pavilion's narrative. They will see a three-minute introductory film on the lives of three women, created by Ms. Devlin and Naomi Kawase, a Japanese filmmaker. 'What we are trying to offer is a way of seeing, even just for a few minutes, through the eyes of others,' Ms. Devlin wrote. Then visitors will be asked to choose among three paths, each illustrated with more information on one of the women, eventually arriving at a mirrored space beneath an open skylight, which Ms. Devlin said symbolized connection and the collective power of storytelling. During the run of the exhibition, a series of talks on topics such as activism, equality, sustainability and biodiversity, also are scheduled for the pavilion's 'WA space,' named for the Japanese concept of harmony, peace and balance. 'We invite visitors to reflect on these issues and consider steps forward,' Mr. Vigneron said. So will the Women's Pavilion become be a permanent fixture at future expos? 'We don't just set up our tent, we engage in dialogue and cooperation with the host country,' Mr. Vigneron said. 'But we believe that every World Expo should include a Women's Pavilion, whatever form it takes.'
