Culture
JAM | Nov 9, 2022

Touch of France is back

/ Our Today

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Reading Time: 3 minutes
President of Alliance Francaise and Touch of France (TOF) conceptualiser Pierre Lemaire (left) with SAINT International model Val Haughton at the launch of this year’s TOF at the AC Hotel in St Andrew.

After a four-year hiatus, the cultural showcase, Touch of France, makes a triumphant return to the AC Hotel in St Andrew this week. 

No one is happier to see the multifaceted intersection of arts, cuisine, sports, commerce and fashion displays back in the saddle than the event’s conceptualiser, Pierre Lemaire.

Lemaire, who is president of Alliance Francaise, told Our Today that restarting the three-day event, slated to be held from this Thursday (November 10) to November 12 “is tough, especially since Touch of France is a biennial show and we were due to have had its 20th anniversary in 2020, therefore it was a hard gap of four years”.

SAINT International Chief Executive Officer Deiwght Peters (left) and actress, director and screenwriter Victoria Rowell at the launch of Touch of France.

Sourcing support proved a particular challenge to stage this year’s iteration, Lemaire divulged, but he is immensely grateful to those who endorsed his venture.

“We had to wait to take the decision of doing it this year and, as we thought less sponsors and partners were ready to get in the adventure, and of course, the cost of everything went up but the show must go on,” he divulged.

In addition to several exhibitors, this year’s Touch of France will host a School Day for Jamaican students on Friday. 

Throughout the course of the three days, a number of special attractions will be on show, including an Afro Amazonian martial arts presentation from Dr Yannick Theolade from French Guyana; cuisine showcase by Chef Aurelien Legue, who has cooked for the King of Morocco and French President Emmanuel Macron, perfume and cosmetics demonstrations and a fashion show to be held on Saturday featuring SAINT International models strutting the driveway of the AC Hotel in designs from Guadeloupean designer Eliette Superbe, Elan; and a specially curated menswear segment by Sophia Max Brown with celebrity models from the political, entertainment and business fraternities.

SAINT International Balenciaga campaign model Jannel Duncan on the runway at the 2018 staging of Touch of France wear Reve Jewellery.

SAINT Chief Executive Officer Deiwght Peters is thrilled to partner once more with Alliance Francaise and Lemaire for Touch of France, as his modelling agency was involved from the very first staging 22 years ago.

“SAINT has been a part of Touch of France since day one, and it’s always a pleasure to support Pierre’s vision of cultural exchange. Through the continued support of the French embassy, SAINT models have journeyed to France and worked with the biggest French luxury fashion houses from Balmain and Louis Vuitton to Saint Laurent and Hermes,” Peters said.

“I am a firm believer in giving back to those who have helped you, and SAINT remains a loyal supporter of our French connections here in Jamaica and abroad.”

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