PARIS – Frédéric Fekkai was made a knight of France’s National Order of Merit Tuesday evening by the country’s Minister of National Education, Luc Chatel.
Among the approximately 70 guests present were Ed Shirley, vice chair of global beauty and grooming at Procter & Gamble; Patrice Louvet, president of the P&G global prestige products division; Christian Courtin-Clarins, chairman of Groupe Clarins; designers Bruno Frisoni and Hervé Van der Straeten; and Michel Dyens, chairman and chief executive officer of investment banking firm Michel Dyens & Co.
Fekkai discussed his career and its defining moments so far, such as when in 1982 Daniel Conte offered him the job of artistic director of Jacques Dessange in New York.
In 1989, Fekkai opened his first eponymous salon, in Bergdorf Goodman, after Calvin Klein recommended him to the store’s management. Other key forces in Fekkai’s work history have included Chanel Group, Anne Gottlieb and Jennifer Balbier.
“It’s amazing when you have been out of [France] for so many years and you have your own country recognizing your achievement, your efforts,” Fekkai said. “And then to have my colleagues, friends and family here to share this moment is fantastic.”