Bernard Arnault Invests In Design Wunderkind Maxime Simoens

by Verena von Pfetten | 2:27 pm, April 19th, 2012

You can hereby consider 27-year-old French designer Maxime Simoens one to watch.

According to Women’s Wear Daily, LVMH titan Bernard Arnault is reportedly making an investment in the so-called “wunderkind” who recently left his place as creative director of Leonard after just one year. There are no official details (yet!) but it’s pretty safe to assume that Arnault is using this very literal interpretation of a vested interest to keep tabs on such a buzzed about talent.

“They do believe in him, and want to finance him,” said one source, suggesting the French group wishes to forge ties with promising designers who could one day take on its bigger brands, which range from Emilio Pucci and Givenchy to Louis Vuitton.

Earlier this year, Simoens confirmed to the trade publication that he was in negotiations to take John Galliano‘s long-vacant place at Dior — the honor of which eventually went to Raf Simons. At the time of his departure from Leonard, Simoens told WWD he hoped to take the time “to concentrate on new projects.” His eponymous collection is currently carried at a few high-end boutiques in Paris, but if these rumors of Arnault’s investment are true, you can expect to see Simoens’ name stateside very soon.

Bernard Arnault LVMH maxime simoens

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