Designers Rykiel, Jacobs made French knights
US fashion designer Marc Jacobs, right, stands near French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel, sitting at left, after he was awarded with the medal of Arts and Letters, at the French culture ministry in Paris, Friday Jan. 22, 2010. Standing at center is Elisabeth Ponsolle des Portes, general Delegate of the Committee Colbert who was also awarded with the Arts and Letters medal. (Source:Remy De La Mauviniere - Associated Press)
Fashion notables Marc Jacobs and Nathalie Rykiel are now knights in France’s Order of Arts and Letters.
Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand bestowed the honor on the two, praising their contributions to the fashion world as Paris hosted menswear shows Friday.
Mitterrand called Jacobs, an American who heads couture lines including his own and is artistic director for Louis Vuitton, "an iconic designer, a gifted person, but also a hard worker."
Jacobs told The Associated Press, "It is one of the greatest honors and that is why I made a point in giving my speech, which I wrote myself and repeated all night, in French."
Designer Sonia Rykiel attended the ceremony. Her daughter Nathalie is president and artistic director of the family label.
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