Business

Christian Lacroix hopes are kept alive

Nicolas Topiol, the president of the ailing fashion house Christian Lacroix, still hopes that its colourful, baroque-inspired haute couture line can be resurrected.

Felicity Glover
Felicity Glover

December 06, 2009

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Nicolas Topiol, the president of the ailing fashion house Christian Lacroix, still hopes that its colourful, baroque-inspired haute couture line can be resurrected. Mr Topiol's comments come after the Paris Court of Commerce on Tuesday approved a restructuring plan for the label that will shut down its haute couture division, cut 100 jobs and spread repayments to creditors over 10 years.

"The financial stability of the company needs to be achieved," he said. "From there, we will be able to pragmatically redevelop its activities, including ready-to-wear and accessories. If we are successful, haute couture could even be considered." The restructuring plan, which will come into effect before the end of the month as required by French law, was approved by the court after doubts were cast over the financial viability of the two leading bids for the company.

The label's court-appointed administrator, Regis Valliot, said last month that Sheikh Hassan bin Ali Al Nuaimi, a member of the ruling family of Ajman, and Bernard Krief Consulting had failed to submit financial guarantees proving they had the liquidity to support their proposals. But Mr Topiol said he had been in contact with representatives of Sheikh Hassan since the court approved the restructuring plan, put forward by the Falic Group, which acquired Christian Lacroix in 2005 from LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

"I understand from them - that they are still very motivated to finalise the transaction in the terms of their initial offer," he said. "They have indicated to me that their financing would be available in the very short term. We are waiting for this to materialise. We are focusing on the Sheikh of Ajman and also preparing our restructuring plan in parallel [with this]." Mr Topiol added that the French government had been "active" in trying to save the fashion house, set up in 1987 by Bernard Arnault, the chief executive of LVMH.

Just last week, Christian Estrosi, the French minister of industry, said he had "mobilised the French diplomatic network in the UAE" to alert Sheikh Hassan to the urgency of the situation. fglover@thenational.ae

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Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.

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  • To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
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