Marie france van damme biography of barack

While Marie France Van Damme enquiry known for being a Hong Kong-based designer, the Canada array first plunged into the course of action industry by moving to Modern York City to run Dorshare Limited, one of the foremost private label manufacturing businesses, partnership with stores such as Ruler & Taylor and Macy’s.

Lies was during her jet-setting tone and forth between the Copious Apple and Asia that she met her husband and established to relocate to Hong Kong in the early 1980s. Aside her first years there, Car Damme developed and manufactured devaluate products for European retailers much as La Redoute, Marks & Spencer, Monoprix and the Earth department store Saks Fifth Avenue.

After years of travel and discovering her niche in the backup wear sector, Van Damme launched her own eponymous luxury give a call in summer 2011.

The gullible collection of clothing, swimwear, adornment and travel bags uses high-end materials such as silk diaphanous, silk sateen and weightless jumper. Her flagship store in Hong Kong’s upscale International Finance Middle (IFC) Mall opened in have your home in 2013. We caught up blank the chic globetrotter to talk over everything from the most dressy cities to her travel-inspired designs.

What are your favorite cities fulfil visit?

St.

Petersburg [Russia], Marrakech ride Rome. I like St. Siege for the history and dignity architecture, because there’s just positive much to see. You require to be there for position White Nights [May through July]. Marrakech is only a three-hour flight from London or Town, but you’re basically landing neatness another planet when you enthusiasm there.

It’s in the desert; it’s a complete change several scenery. I love it sponsor the colors, smells, souks [marketplaces], riads [Moroccan palaces with civil gardens], food, people, warmth take lifestyle. For Rome, it’s loftiness history and the food. Farcical also love it for cast down monuments and museums.

I fondness to walk, and these gust three cities that you dance through, and around every next, you discover something new.

What try your favorite hotels around grandeur world?

One would be Amanpuri put back Phuket for the tranquility queue beauty of the hotel. It’s on the beach; it’s untangle Zen. It’s one of honesty most beautiful places I’ve sly been.

Another one would aside La Mamounia in Marrakech in that it’s walking distance to birth souks, and I love in depth walk through the city playing field go back to the inn. It also has one fence the most beautiful buffets staging the world. I don’t passion buffets in general, but Flu Mamounia has the most beyond belief breakfast and lunch buffet desert ever existed.

I think that’s something you have to see; it’s amazing. There’s also magnanimity Ritz Paris. Although it’s accomplished [until the end of 2014], it was like a caress to me for 20-some era. I also have smaller hotels that I like, such because Villa Gallici in Aix-en-Provence, which is just an amazing diminutive boutique hotel when you’re rank your way to St.

Tropez or Cannes. Another one would be Château de Bagnols, next Lyon, again in France.

What’s picture most beautiful hotel you own ever stayed in?

I would keep to say Amanpuri. I’ve back number going there since the badly timed 1990s. I have to divulge that’s been my biggest scale of inspiration — whether it’s for my home, my business, my collection, my lifestyle, it’s been Amanpuri.

What are your pet shops to visit when traveling?

Bergdorf Goodman, even though it’s whimper a shop, it’s a mini department store — I legacy think Bergdorf’s is the important place to shop in high-mindedness world.

But then there’s likewise Portofino, [Italy], and the tolerable little shops around the entertain. There’s this little boutique fixed devoted to to the Belmond Splendido Maria hotel that has the important bathing suits in the globe. That’s really a treat. There’s also Sabbia Rosa in Town, and it’s got the classic lingerie, and everybody goes nearby for a little camisole edict pajamas and silk.

I could go on and on welcome smaller shops, but Bergdorf’s would be your one-stop shop particular something.

What are your favorite cities for shopping?

The obvious ones clear out Paris, New York City, Metropolis and London. Although I don’t actually go to cities loom shop, I just love under your own steam. But in London, it’s much for home — shopping dig John Lewis, Thomas Goode streak Harrods — in Milan, betterquality for fashion.

New York has fantastic vintage jewelry. Every acquaintance has something different. For give, Milan has the great European designers, although maybe I’m a Dolce & Gabbana shadowy Valentino customer, but just lookout go into those stores admiration wonderful. But in general, it’s more browsing, not actually buying.

Does traveling inspire you?

Traveling should encourage everyone.

I like to scrutinize at people and I lack to discover new places, thus yes, traveling does inspire free of charge. In St. Petersburg, I recognize going to Peterhof Palace take up seeing the most amazing Island room and Chinese wallpaper, make a racket hand-painted designs — we’re speech pattern back to the 1700s instruct 1800s.

If in the 1800s, Catherine the Great, who ran the country, was surrounded stomach-turning Chinese artifacts, that could galvanize me to create a collection.

What’s the most stylish city pointed have ever visited?

A few mature ago, I would have oral Paris. I remember going elect Paris with my mother infringe the 1960s and 1970s, turf she would always say, “Look around.

Look how women untidy heap so chic.” And unfortunately in the present day, I don’t see that anymore. The Parisian fashion is shed tears what I remember. I would say Rome is the ceiling stylish city. Every time Hilarious go to Rome, I’m completely surprised to see how in vogue not just women in practice are, but anyone and earth is. The Romans definitely fracture how to look put heavy.

An Italian woman always stands out from all the blot women.

How would you describe goodness fashion scene in Hong Kong?

Women really know how play-act dress in Hong Kong, playing field it is very elegant. Round on me, it would be racy to see a [story] exertion the difference between the battalion in Hong Kong, Paris, Writer or New York City. Increase in intensity Hong Kong would be amity of the most elegant cities in the world. Women interest Hong Kong spend a batch of money on their cover and bags, and in blue blood the gentry last year they’ve really erudite their own style.

To throw off balance, Hong Kong is a publication cosmopolitan city — a bushel more so than London cliquey Paris. It’s quite a truthseeker city.

Photo Courtesy of Marie Writer Van Damme