Caroline, how does your expertise in jewellery influence your design?
When you come from the jewellery and watch business, half a millimetre makes a difference. So I look at design with much more precision than fashion designers. Part of it is because I come from another world where the raw materials we use are very expensive. So in turn there is a lot more respect for the materials—this impacts my approach to design. And that also ties in with our efforts in sustainability and how I am striving to also make an impact on the fashion world just as much as we did in jewellery and watches. 

Shintaro, both your mother and you are Chopard’s loyal supporters. How does Chopard’s brand values resonate with you?
All of Chopard’s supply chains are sustainable and traceable. The companies that have survived throughout the years all contributed positively to society and the world, and were able to adapt over time amid changing rules and restrictions. Chopard’s storied history of almost 200 years is testament to the value that Chopard has brought to the world.

The Chopard name reminds me of a tale. Heaven was built with beautiful jewels, like diamonds, and what we see on earth is just a fraction of it. This is why people find such value in jewels. With this in mind, God shared jewels with people to let us know the true beauty of the holy world. If this story is true, it feels even more important to share the beauty of jewels that have been sourced and manufactured sustainably and in good conscience, as Chopard does with its jewels.

Caroline, Chopard has long since been supporting the art of cinema, and this year’s Red Carpet Collection is inspired by different forms of art. Can you tell us about the creative process behind it?
The inspiration is really the seven different arts: sculpture, writing, music, dancing, cinema, and so on. When I first [shared] the idea with my team, they asked: “Well, how are we going to portray writing?”

We ended up creating a beautiful necklace with feathers, which represents the old form of writing [using a quill]. In the beginning, they felt it would be difficult to translate. But afterwards, it became a very fun, dynamic project. We just had to think outside of the box.

Shintaro, as the head of Kambara Art Studios and Kambara Art Inc., you have a great passion for the arts. What drives this passion and how would you incorporate it in your future work?
I have been thinking about my raison d’etre and what I can leave for society. Leaving broken glass on the streets may lead to increased graffiti and littering. A broken street lamp could increase crime, and then more people are likely to vandalise and litter, with things going in a downward spiral. Conversely, if the streets are well kept and cared for, people will naturally keep the streets clean without graffiti, littering and possibly even without crimes, which would end up with a net positive effect. I have always liked art and beautiful things and I hope Kambara Art can contribute to a positive spiral in society by sharing incredible art with the world. While I cannot do as much as Chopard, I will certainly do the best that I can.

Caroline, this year you collaborated with Kalhath Institute in India. Can you tell us about how you connected with the institute and why you decided to work with them?
The two people I set up Caroline’s Couture with are long-standing professionals in the fashion industry. One of them has worked a lot in India with the [country’s] beautiful, local fabrics. Around five to six years ago, he founded an institution that initially started with only a few women. Today, there are more than 600 women involved, creating incredible embroidery work that has not only helped them escape poverty but also empowered them to teach others.

Shintaro, you and your family are also passionate about philanthropy. You were the youngest vice-chair at amfAR Cannes. What was that experience like? 
My family has always been enthusiastically involved in philanthropic activities. In 2016, I became the then-youngest vice-chair at amfAR Cannes. At amfAR, I was impressed to find that a lot more people were keen on contributing back to society than what I had expected. I learnt that philanthropic activities can be exponentially more effective when done in collaboration with others.

Caroline, your couture designs are intended for the wearer to own and use for many, many years. How did you come up with this concept?
Having attended Cannes for 26 years now, I’ve gone to a number of events. I’m lucky to have a lot of designer friends who dress me in designs that I know I will wear when I return home. But I know a lot of our clients attend in very flamboyant dresses that they wear once and then retire the piece to sit in a cupboard forever. I wanted to create couture that can be versatile, easily paired with different outfits. Practicality matters when travelling, so I aimed for something dressy yet adaptable. A timeless little black dress can be elevated with a stunning necklace and high heels, undergoing a chameleon-like transformation. That was my objective.

Shintaro, how do you foresee your future role at Kambara International? What new vision would you like to bring to the organisation?
My mother is Kambara International’s current president and she has worked with experienced leaders. When they were younger, time flowed slowly and they had time to think about things, people and life. Nowadays, the internet offers a wellspring of information at your fingertips and it is easy to be overwhelmed. It can be difficult to make the right decisions quickly—even for those with experience. It’s even more difficult for younger generations, but, unlike previous times, the young people of today are striving to make a greater impact on society. As one such young person, my goal is to collaborate with experienced leaders to establish truly useful activities to better society today and in the near future.

There have always been great leaders who have led people in the right direction. In this day and age, I believe that it is essential for more leaders to interact more frequently and at a deeper level. Recently, Kambara International entered into a business partnership agreement with ANA Business Jet Inc. By strengthening the brand of Japanese companies and promoting international exchange among business leaders across industries, I am looking forward to seeing if we can generate something meaningful to the society that can break barriers and quash stereotypes.

Caroline, your ability to seamlessly integrate the business and creative aspects of a corporation is impressive. Any advice for young entrepreneurs? How can they achieve a similar balance?
Shintaro said something very wise. I would stay away from the internet as much as possible [...] If I can give a little advice to the younger generation, I would say that human contact and exchanging ideas and talking face to face is incredibly important. During Covid, we were unfortunately restricted to virtual meetings. And you just talk about exactly what’s on the agenda. You are far less able to thrive creatively. This only happens when you meet people face to face. It’s less structured and rigid and it happens because you feel it.

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