PARIS — Emeric Tchatchoua, founder and creative director of 3.Paradis, was honored Wednesday with the French distinction Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres.
Tchatchoua was presented with the honor during an evening ceremony by French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, which was also attended by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.
“There are fashion designers, there are designers of worlds,” she said. “You truly opened one that belongs entirely to you, and to no one else.”
Dati noted his brand brings together art, philosophy and creation from a cultural point of view, and that the designer who hails from a working-class neighborhood in Paris builds bridges between worlds.
“That is what makes you a great creator. And that is why tonight we honor the young man you are, and the life journey you have taken,” she added. “This distinction recognizes all of that: the work, the personality, the man who contributes every day to reshaping the face of fashion,” she said. “A man who shows that France can rely not only on its historic fashion houses, but also on the constant struggle and brilliance of new generations of creators. For the Republic, this is a source of great pride.”
Emeric Tchatchoua receives French Arts and Letters Honor
@mediaupproduction/Courtesy images
Clad in a sharp suit and sunglasses, Tchatchoua accepted the medal on his lapel.
“Creation is no longer just a personal necessity — it is a way of sharing, of transmitting, of opening paths,” he said. “Madame Minister, as a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, I promise to keep this space open — a space that does not exclude, that allows worlds that do not yet speak to one another to enter into dialogue.”
Tchatchoua sat down with WWD ahead of the ceremony.
WWD: What did you think when you were first notified of this honor?
Emeric Tchatchoua: I was really grateful and really happy, especially for my parents, because they love everything that I do. But this is a real recognition that makes them even more proud. So they were the first people I thought about when I got the news, and my family for sure.
WWD: When you look back at your career over the years, what is the idea or the core ethos of the brand that has really remained with you?
E.T.: I think this idea of dreaming is so important, especially nowadays. The idea of imagining a new world, new possibilities, has always been what really stimulates me. Also this idea of sharing and telling stories to elevate the mind, elevate the soul. This is really something that’s behind my work.
WWD: Your work is a lot about identity. How has your understanding of that changed over the course of your career?
E.T.: I think my work is a lot about culture. Culture helped me to grow, helped me to open my mind, helped me to be more human and helped me to learn so much about others. This is really the idea behind my work, and every day it also helps me to learn so much more about life and about people in general. It’s great to be able to work and at the same time nurture yourself through your work.
WWD: You bring together a lot of people from outside the fashion industry. How does that influence your designs, your shows or everything around the brand?
E.T.: I want to be a bridge. I want to be a connector. I want to create connections between people, especially between people who don’t usually talk to each other. I feel like we have much more in common than differences. I realized that through my experiences, and my goal is really to show that to people, so we can all live together, learn from each other, and better ourselves and the world around us.
WWD: Looking back at your career, has there been one collection, one moment or one show that felt like a game changer for you?
E.T.: Not a game changer, but something that really touched me and changed me as a person, and made my mission more clear. I think it was my first show. It was so deep and personal, with so much more meaning than what was told to the press. I did the show in my childhood neighborhood, where I was born and raised. People who saw me growing up were watching from their balconies, and a lot of the models were people from the neighborhood too. It led to so much more for me personally. It’s one of the best moments of my life, beyond fashion. My family came, my friends traveled from all around the world to be there. I don’t think it’s possible to top that moment.
WWD: You’re quite young in your career to be receiving this award. What do you feel is still out there for you to do? What’s next?
E.T.: Keep inspiring people. Keep pushing, keep working, enjoying myself, trying to create more and make my work resonate with more people around the world — maybe people who have never heard of what we do. To me, what I’m living right now has already reached my goals, so everything else is kind of a bonus. Just keep going.
As for the next show, I don’t want to spoil it. The idea is to pay homage to those who are no longer with us but still live in our hearts, our spirits, our minds. Expect a celebration — a celebration of the people you love but can’t tell right now. The show is a way of telling them we love them, even if they’re no longer physically with us.
