DTI-Citem, expert share secrets to creating, growing luxury brands
Business Mirror
January 4, 2017
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Center for Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem), and luxury-brand expert Prof. Dennis Morisset ignited a new creative energy among more than 100 Philippine designers, artists, entrepreneurs and industry leaders who attended 2016’s most exciting and informative master class on luxury-brand management, entitled “The Art of Creating and Growing Luxury Brands”.
Held on November 22 and 23, 2016, at Citem HallONE in Pasay City, the master class was facilitated by Morisset, whose wealth of experience comes from his time leading the most sophisticated brands, including Piere Balmain and Giorgio Armani France, where he was CEO; and Ralph Lauren Europe, where he was COO.
Morisset also served as executive director of MBA in International Luxury Brand Management in one of the world’s most prestigious higher-education establishments, the ESSEC Business School in Paris, France. The two-day seminar-workshop covered four significant topics—“Understanding Luxury”;“Luxury Branding Fundamentals,” “Business Models and Distribution Channels” and “Retailing in the Digital Age.” These topics were carefully organized by Citem and Morisset to keep small and medium enterprise owners, managers and merchandising and marketing executives abreast with emerging lifestyle and behaviors, and provide a solid grounding in the concept and foundation of luxury and premium branding.
Citem and Morisset garnered numerous praises from the attendees, including bag and shoe designer and entrepreneur Zarah Juan, who expressed her appreciation for the unique learning experience and added, “I feel this will impact my brand in so many good ways. Mabuhay kayo!”
Another grateful attendee was sculptural jewelry designer Helena Alegre, who asserted the relevance and instructiveness of the seminar-workshop to designers like her.
Meanwhile, artisanal icecream-churning duo of Up in the Clouds said, “[We are] really happy we had this opportunity. We can really benefit from this class. I hope Citem will invite more professors or speakers, or have more similar initiatives.”
The Luxury Brand Management Masterclass is a new initiative of Citem to introduce a higher level of design thinking among small and medium enterprises, exporters, designers and manufacturers.
Citem spearheads developmental programs like the Red Box, which harnesses young talent and creates the next generation of Philippine designers; and Manila Wear, which aspires to raise Philippine fashion into a globally competitive industry.
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THE Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions is the export-promotion arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry. Citem is the owner and organizer of Manila FAMe, the Philippines’s premier design and lifestyle sourcing event; and Ifex Philippines, the biggest and most respected export-oriented food show in the country.
For more information, visit www.citem.gov.ph.