Highlights of the 20th Sapins Noel Des Createurs in Paris

The Eiffel tower sparkled as a special event took place at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. Now in its 20th year, the event founded by Marie-Christiane Marek got underway. Christmas trees all designed by the most celebrated fashion designers in the industry were auctioned off to raise money for a good cause.

The concept behind the event is for renowned names from the world of fashion, design and architecture, to put forward their reinterpretation of the traditional Christmas tree, which will then be auctioned off with the proceeds going to l'Association pour la Vie, Espoir contre le Cancer (Fondation AVEC), a charitable foundation that seeks to improve the quality of life of cancer patients, undertakes medical research and aims to raise awareness of cancer among all governments.

Designers participating this year included Chantal Thomass avec Blachère, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Emanuel Ungaro, Jean Paul Gaultier avec Oh! by Kopenhagen Fur, Jeff Koons for H&M, Pierre Hermé, Stéphane Rolland and Stella McCartney.

We spoke to the Director of Foundation AVEC David Khayat about the magical event and it’s founder Marie-Christiane. He went on to explain how she asked her best friends within the fashion industry, who just happened to all be influential designers at that time to build their own flamboyant Christmas tree.

French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, who created designs for the event revealed his love of playing with words in his work in order to open the minds of people. One of his favorite is “Ce pain de Noël,” which depicts a baguette and is a play on “Sapin de Noël” the French word for Christmas tree. He also spoke of his grandson living in California, and the humor of trying to decide whether the tree depicted is a Christmas tree or a palm tree. As he says, “Humor is the blood of the soul.”

Elsewhere Stéphane Rolland presented a design inspired by his muse, Spanish top model Nieves Alvarez, who was one of the last muses of Saint Laurent.

Traditionally the trees are open to the public for a week prior to the event and the signed trees are then auctioned off to be sold. However this year calls for something a little bit different. Each of the designer stores taking part in the event will showcase their own design for the customers to see and become inspired by. Dior, Elie Saab, Fendi, Maxmara, Apostophe were just some of the designers taking part.

All money raised from the Christmas trees will be given to the AVEC foundation which offers hope against cancer and support to cancer sufferers.