The Best Actor in the Vase of Meiyu

Chapter 1809 Acting righteously
LVMH Group is a top player in the industry, and luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, and Tiffany & Co. belong to the group. Dior is also one of their brands.

For these groups, design, innovation, art, fashion, and culture are all unimportant; profit is the only thing that matters.

Dior Menswear indeed became a pioneer, opening up the menswear market, and during Anson's tenure as its spokesperson, it experienced a volcanic eruption of growth, with the entire fashion industry worshipping it. It is conceivable that the group's expectations for Eddie and Dior Menswear have been rising steadily, anticipating a continued surge in profits.

Since Anson stepped down as brand ambassador, Dior menswear's market share and annual profits have continued to grow, further solidifying its position as an industry leader; however, this growth is incomparable to the explosive growth during Anson's tenure as brand ambassador, and the group believes that the growth is below expectations.

Currently, more and more top luxury brands are beginning to pay attention to the menswear fashion market, and trends are changing, so a rearrangement of market share is inevitable.

Under such circumstances, it is truly remarkable that Dior was still able to maintain growth and even expand its market share.

The problem is that the group's senior management and board of directors expected to see 10% or 20% profit growth, but Dior Men's delivered a 5% profit growth, which they considered a failure.

So-called success is relative; if it falls short of the group's expectations, it cannot be considered a success.

These top-tier groups have different requirements and expectations.

The LVMH Group hopes that Eddie Slimane can lower his profile, integrate his designs into everyday life, and make Dior menswear accessible to more and more ordinary people.

In Eddie's view, this was indeed self-destructive, abandoning his own unique characteristics and weapons. He refused to give up his pioneering spirit and his willingness to challenge others, which led him to endure fierce attacks and immense pressure. Facing the open and covert attacks from the board of directors, Eddie had exhausted all his energy.

In fact, Eddie and Bernard Arnault, the head of LVMH, have a good personal relationship. It was Bernard who personally invited Eddie to take over Dior menswear, and it was Bernard who gave Eddie the green light to complete those designs, which led to the birth of the Dior myth.

Unfortunately, faced with interests and reality, their past friendship could not withstand the test, and Bernard also turned his gun on Eddie, hoping that Eddie would make a change.

Eddie doesn't understand that if he changes, he won't be himself anymore; similarly, Dior menswear wouldn't be able to break free from its constraints and become the pioneer it is today.

This same set of rules is precisely what led them to where they are now; but now, pressure from the parent company is tying his hands and feet.

In fact, Eddie still possesses inspiration and vitality in design. He even proactively volunteered to expand into women's wear, hoping to integrate his design concepts into women's clothing and open up a new chapter. He believes he can inject a fresh energy into fashion trends.

However, Bernard put it on hold for the time being.

After some polite exchanges and beating around the bush, although Bernard didn't directly refuse and said they needed time to think and discuss, Eddie's lack of social skills didn't mean he was completely oblivious to the subtext. He could tell that Bernard was being perfunctory, and the group's senior management was clearly not prepared to support him.

Eddie had to bear all that pressure and frustration alone, with nowhere to confide in anyone.

Anson was completely unaware of this.

But Anson was not surprised. Just like his rivalry with Sony Columbia, when anything reaches the level of capital, the essence is the same.

No wonder Eddie was so eager and ready to try when he heard Anson's suggestion—

Designing a unique white shirt isn't just about relying on Anson; it's about a direct breakthrough. Perhaps by relying on Anson, Eddie can boost sales and temporarily overcome the current difficulties; but they can't rely on Anson forever, and Anson isn't a panacea for all problems. Ultimately, Eddie still needs to rely on itself.

Therefore, a white shirt, not an experimental avant-garde design like those from London Fashion Week, but a typical Dior cut, hides the bold and adventurous edge of those pioneers in the cut and shape, and then injects a finishing touch of inspiration.

For example, sunflowers.

Such a design not only satisfies Eddie's insistence, but also meets the group's requirements and even the expectations of the fashion industry, allowing Dior menswear to integrate into daily life and become a part of the everyday wear of millions of ordinary men.

After all, everyone needs a white shirt.

Moreover, Anson's willingness to attend Fashion Week, whether as an audience member or a model, inherently generates buzz.

Eddie believes they can use this sunflower shirt as a starting point to launch a series of promotional campaigns that will continue until Fashion Week in February.

At that time, he should be able to improve his situation or even turn things around.

For a whole year, the problem that had been troubling and pressuring Eddie had unexpectedly found a glimmer of hope in this way.

With his tense nerves relaxed, Eddie, unusually, lost his composure and naturally voiced his frustrations, worries, and struggles.

In his memory, this was the first time Anson had heard Eddie talk about his own story. He carefully broke down the barriers and allowed a stranger into his world. Anson also held nothing back and talked to Eddie about his experiences at Sony Columbia, and for the first time, he talked to someone else about the years when he was injured in an accident.

Indeed, in the face of real capital, they are insignificant. Whether it's LVMH Group or Sony Columbia, the only thing they care about is profit, and everything else is just numbers. But the key point is that not only are they pawns, but the CEO, the board of directors, and senior management are all pawns as well.

Capital can hurt Anson and Eddie, just as it can hurt Michael Linton and Bernard Arnault; it's all fair.

Therefore, as long as they understand the rules, Anson and Eddie can also leverage their positions to launch a counterattack, firmly grasp their interests, and control their destiny. So-called interests, if you look beyond the surface, are actually just a tool.

Before I knew it, night had fallen, and the lights of every house were on, supporting the pale gray sky and outlining a different face of London with orange glow. The Thames reflected the towering buildings on both banks, and it seemed as if a sky full of stars could be seen falling down.

On the table were boxes from a Chinese takeout meal, half a bottle of whiskey, and scattered candy wrappers, a testament to a joyful and pleasant day.

Eddie knew that it was just a small favor for Anson, whether it was attending fashion week or today's brainstorming session, nothing to make a fuss about; but he couldn't take it all for granted, he knew better than anyone what Anson's act of kindness really meant.

Eddie never expected that he would become true friends with Anson.

But now it seems that this feeling is not bad, especially in a world where everyone says that friendship is dead and everything is for exploitation and betrayal.

Everything seems all the more precious it becomes.

However, this is the beauty and happiness in life, right?
(End of this chapter)