The Blue Climate Summit, co-convened by Prince Albert, last month set out to advance ocean-related solutions to climate change through concrete, actionable projects. The outcomes are in.
More than 200 scientists, business and political leaders, youth advocates and environmentalists gathered together from 14th to 20th May in French Polynesia for the Blue Climate Summit, organised by the Blue Climate Initiative.
A few themes took precedence at the conference, first and foremost, the need to strike a better balance between the oceans and man. It was hit home that without a strong marine environment, mankind will suffer.
“The living ocean, all of it, is inextricably connected to Earth’s climate and to the existence of life, humans very much included,” said Dr Sylvia Earle, an American marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer.
Next up was the importance of ocean health on human health. Threats are being made to the marine world in unimaginable ways. One such threat is deep sea mining. An obscure Jamaican entity called The International Seabed Authority is planning to issue deep sea mining licenses without knowing what this kind of disruptive project will do to the fragile ecosystems of the sea floors.
It is thought that large pieces of pristine ocean beds will be destroyed, whilst releasing massive plumes of debris, which will certainly affect life above. Participants at the Summit called for more scientific research to be made to learn what the impact and consequences of such explorative mining will cause.
President Édouard Fritch, whose country hosted the event, made clear his determination to create a better situation for the seas, saying, “With the largest managed marine area in the world and its 19,000 km2 Biosphere Reserve, our people of the largest ocean continent carry a message to offer to the world. On the occasion of the Blue Climate Summit, I invite the world to come to French Polynesia, to listen to us and, above all, to hear us.”
The Blue Climate Summit was regarded as not an event, but as a launchpad to important initiatives, though the plans will mean nothing unless they are followed up by action. To this end, the next several months will be critical to advancing, implementing and scaling the initiatives agreed upon.
The Summit was co-hosted by the Government of French Polynesia alongside other public and private institutions. Co-conveners included Prince Albert II of Monaco, President Edouard Fritch of French Polynesia, master navigator Nainoa Thompson from the Polynesian Voyaging Society, world-renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, international environmental advocate Laura Turner, Richard Bailey, CEO of Pacific Beachcomber in Tahiti, Andrew Forrest, co-founder of the Minderoo Foundation, and Marc Benioff, co-founder and co-CEO of SalesForce.
Photo of the Hōkūleʻa ceremony at Taputapuātea, the UNESCO World Heritage site, on Raʻiatea, supplied.
“I am inspired by professional working women everywhere”
Donata Davidoff was born in Lithuania to a creative family who encouraged her to pursue her passions. Although, during her early years, Lithuania didn’t have a luxury fashion industry, Donata enjoyed exploring the incredible artisanship of her home country: garment workers (mostly women) who had impeccable tailoring techniques passed down through generations.
It was this interest in craftmanship and detail that led Donata, aged 18, to win a place to study on the prestigious Central St. Martin’s design course – the very first Lithuanian to ever do so.
Having since travelled extensively around the world accruing knowledge of art, architecture, design and the lifestyle of creative, entrepreneurial women, Donata wanted to create a fashion house that mirrored her life and experiences.
In 2017 in Chelsea, London, Donata Davidoff – an independent demi-couture atelier – was launched. The design ethos has never changed: to create timeless wardrobe staples to couture standards for contemporary, stylish women.
Monaco Life: How did you get into the world of fashion design?
Donata Davidoff: When I was growing up in Lithuania in the 1980s, fashion was non-existent, but I was exposed to artisans as my mother was a seamstress, and my grandmother was a poet and a painter.
When I moved to London to study fashion and design at Central St. Martin’s, I was overwhelmed by the different trends and street styles and that is when I started experimenting with my own personal style.
After finishing my studies at Central St. Martins, I worked for a fashion design agency advising on trends and forecasts for other fashion companies, and soon after started my own beach line MillyMoy. With experience, my style has evolved and so has my appreciation for timeless pieces, which led me to start a new line Donata Davidoff.
When did you produce your first collection and what inspired you?
I launched my second line Donata Davidoff in 2018. Having lived in five different countries and travelled extensively around the world, I have accrued the knowledge of art, architecture and design. I wanted to create a fashion house that mirrored my life and experiences. The idea was born to create timeless wardrobe staples to couture quality for contemporary, stylish women.
I am inspired by professional working women everywhere. I aim to provide the perfect capsule wardrobe that is season-less and timeless, yet modern and aspirational. The label reflects our clients and it is very personal. I try to meet all our clients and respond to their needs and wants. I want to celebrate and empower women, embrace their strengths and potential through clothes. What we wear says so much about us and what we want to say to the world. Dressing up gives us confidence, an innate elegance. This lies at the heart of everything I do.’
Tell us about your latest collection and the inspiration behind it?
My latest collection was inspired by my muse Lauren Hutton. She represents to me true timeless elegance. I wanted to create a collection that is understated but still chic, using luxury fabrics; polished looks with some sustainable vegan leather pieces, and flowy silk dresses that can be worn to a pool party or dressed up with heals and turned into a ball gown; impeccable tailoring of masculine suits crafted from the most luxurious Loro Piana fabrics, which turned out to be our best sellers. We also added sustainable linen dresses that have understated details such a fabric covered buttons, French lace trimmings.
Donata Davidoff
Which are your favourite stand-out pieces from the current collection?
My favourite stand-out pieces would be the green open back maxi dress and beige Loro Piana wool suit.
How do you incorporate sustainability into your collections?
When I launched my brand, I knew that sustainability and fair-trade clothing were not just trends, but a cause we can all become a part of to secure the future of the upcoming generations. Therefore, a commitment to sustainability is a commitment to balancing the short and long-term supply and demand of resources.
When it comes to fashion, sustainability has many meanings – sustainable fashion, ethical fashion, fair trade fashion and slow fashion being the most common. Although they have different meanings as you will see below, they are part of the same movement: fast fashion.
There are many production processes, such as fabric dyeing, which are very toxic to the environment. The textile industry is one of the top three water-wasting industries, in fact the second most polluting industry in the world, right after oil. The only way that fast fashion can be so affordable is through cheap labour, which can be detrimental to the workers themselves and their communities.
My designs are made from long-lasting, ethical fabrics. I design with an intention to offer timeless designs that don’t go out of fashion, have an outstanding couture level quality, and should stay in your closet for many years.
I work with the best European fabrics manufacturer who invested in the new technologies to create environmentally-friendly fabrics, such as sustainably grown fibre crops or recycled materials. I always ask for EU certifications showing that there are no harmful chemicals used.
My production is done in a very small Lithuanian factory run by women only. They all have been paid good wages and are proud of their job. I plan production quantities very carefully not to over produce, so I don’t end up with stock at the end of the season. I often take pre-orders from clients. We also have been in discussions to partner up with a clothing-rental company who would be taking some of our older stock to rent/resell for the high-end market.
What challenges do you face making your brand sustainable?
It is still hard to find good suppliers for fabrics and trimmings. Very often, I have an idea of what I want to make but can’t find suitable sustainable fabrics. I am hoping that soon industry will have a huge reform and change ways of manufacturing.
What do you think needs to change globally to make the fashion industry more sustainable and environmentally friendly long term?
You need to ask yourself: “Do I want to support a brand that does not care about doing their best to make a change?”
We discard so many clothes every year. From an environmental point of view, fast fashion which encourages a throwaway mentality, is very unsustainable. We all need to shop less and invest in well made, timeless, sustainable basics with few new pieces and accessories. I already see a big shift especially in the younger generation; they are much more aware of the tragic situation with the planet’s pollution.
Alex Riviere wedding dress Gia. Photo by Luis Monteiro
With online shopping surging to new heights since the pandemic, ss there still a big demand for traditional retail shopping?
I think there is still a demand for traditional shopping, but with a twist. It has to be more than just opening a shop and hoping the customers will come. There is huge competition and new brands popping up every day.
Customers want more personalised service. I find it so annoying in those rare moments when I walk into an actual store and the sales assistant tells me they don’t have my size so I end up looking online to find that item. Stores must be inspirational; a real experience of what the brand is about with exceptional customer service.
We are offering our London-based customers a ‘try before you buy’ service, where our driver delivers part of the collection and waits for customers to try the clothing on.
What are your brand goals and objectives for the future?
My goal is to build brand awareness internationally. We already have a great list of loyal customers in London, Monaco, New York, Miami, and Atlanta. My next project is to show in Dallas, Miami, Palm Beach, and Paris. We want to grow organically and build loyal customers who appreciate our philosophy.
You’re currently based in London but used to reside in Monaco. Tell us about your time in Monaco and what you love about the Principality?
I spent five years in Monaco. It was a special time for me as both of my kids were born there. The expat community was so big and I saw a great potential to create a high-end children’s club, which did not exist at the time. Sort of a Soho house for kids. It was an instant success. We had 400 members within one year. Some of the most important families such as Prince Albert, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, Novak Djokovic and many more trusted their children into our care. We had an incredible sense of community.
Once again, I had to put myself into the “customer’s shoes” – children – to imagine what they would love to experience. For instance, Roger Moore’s grandchildren were members so we thought it would be a fun idea to have him come read stories for little members of the club. It was such a great success and a beautiful memory.
The city was so easy to raise children. It is a safe place, where you can walk pretty much anywhere, and the sunny climate is a huge bonus. I am missing the simplicity of life there, but at some point, I felt I needed to get back into the big city buzz.
Monaco Life quick fire round
Describe your personal style: My style is feminine. I am not a “fashion victim”, I don’t like loud clothing. I prefer to dress understated, elegant and sleek. During the day I wear blazers, trousers, and silk shirts, and in the evening elegant dresses or jumpsuits.
Who is your style icon and why: As I mentioned above, Lauren Hutton alongside Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly, and Kate Middleton all represent true elegance and are not “ordinary” women. I like strong women with a great personality.
The last item of clothing you added to your wardrobe: That’s a little hard to define as I keep most of my new collection pieces for myself and try to buy as little as possible from other brands. I recently went to NYC and got a new pair of jeans from the brand I love and can’t find in London.
The grooming staple you’re never without: Tinted SPF moisturiser and a good hand cream.
In your fridge you’ll always find: Avocados, berries, oat milk and smoked salmon.
Your guiltiest pleasure: Red wine and cheese.
Your wellbeing gurus are: Jay Shetty and Tiffany Cruikshank
Your favourite website: Luisa Via Roma
The trip that You’re looking forward to next: Japan, a food trip I have been planning for some years now.
The best book you’ve read in the past year: The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh
Your greatest fear: That one of my children would get seriously ill.
What makes you unhappy: When I am crazy busy and don’t have time for my family and calm moments with yoga and meditation.
What would your superpower be? A smile.
What keeps you awake at night? I often find myself trying to solve problems when I am in bed. I have had insomnia for years, but am dealing much better with it now. Meditation and regular yoga helped me a lot.
Your most treasured possession? Our pet labrador named Blue, and family photos, along with my grandmother’s engagement ruby ring.
What happens when we die? People have believed in the afterlife for thousands of years, so it would be strange for me to say that they are wrong. But the concept of an afterlife for me is pure comfort. There is no evidence for belief in an afterlife or something else entirely as of today. It’s a matter of faith.
Jayne Blight has established an enviable reputation as a style guru. A freelance fashion stylist who has worked in the luxury fashion industry for 20 years, she is an online luxury fashion Influencer, a devotee of detoxing, and is passionate about combining fitness and healthy good looks with a stylish wardrobe.
Monaco victory sets up heavyweight final clash against Lyon
AS Monaco Basketball scraped past Pau-Lacq-Orthez (83-85) on Thursday to reach the final of the French championship, where they will meet their old nemesis Lyon-Villeurbanne in a five-game series.
Monaco have already faced Lyon four times this season, twice in the domestic division and twice in the Euroleague. Currently they are tied on two wins apiece, whilst, apart from a sizeable victory for the Roca Team back in January, fine margins have decided matters.
Monaco also have previous for meeting them in the play-offs. Asvel defeated them in the quarter-finals in 2016/17, in the semi-finals in 2015/16 and in the finals in 2018/19. Since then, however, Monaco have made huge strides, they are now a European force, and Lyon can therefore expect a greater challenge.
After two straightforward ties at the Salle Gaston Médecin in Monaco, the Roca Team haven’t had things all their way over in Pau. Having lost the first tie earlier in the week, Sasa Obradovic’s men were given a scare once again on Thursday night as they had to hold on to secure their progression.
Pau, with the support of the home crowd, got off to a solid start and grew a small advantage in the first-quarter. Wary of falling into the same trap as they did in the third tie of the series, Monaco fought back as they took the reins of the match and dictated the tempo.
After imposing themselves in a dominant second and third quarter, the victory looked to be sealed as they went into the final 10 with a 13-point gap to their opponent (55-68). However, Brandon Jefferson, who has been a thorn in Monaco’s side throughout the series, came to the fore, shooting three-pointers with pinpoint accuracy as he accumulated a monstrous 34 points on the night.
But it wasn’t enough. Monaco clung on to avoid a fifth-leg decider at the Salle Gaston Médecin, and progress to the Betclic Elite final.
Post-match, Obradovic reflected on the victory: “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. The way they played, with a big temperament was proof of that. We have worked all year to get to the final, and now we’re in a very good position to go and get what we want.”
In the hunt to end their spectacular season with silverware, Monaco must first travel to Lyon for the first two legs of the final, beginning on Wednesday, whilst basketball returns to the Principality on Monday 20th June.
Prince Albert officially opened the Top Marques supercar show on Thursday in Monaco ahead of the busy four-day event that features the absolute best in luxury cars and all things automotive.
After two years impacted by the Covid-19 health crisis, Top Marques returns to the Grimaldi Forum from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th June as big and as bold as ever.
Filling the exhibition centre are the most incredible contemporary cars by everyone from Bentley, Aston Martin and Rolls Royce, to McLaren, Maserati and Lamborghini.
Top Marques is more than just the world’s most prestigious supercar show. Two wheelers also feature heavily, as well as flying craft such as Mc-Clic’s new manned drone, and Monaco-made Esurf, an electric surfboard.
In officially opening this year’s Top Marques ahead of the public at midday, Prince Albert toured the Grimaldi Forum, meeting with exhibitioners and seeing first-hand the incredible vehicles on display, as well as unveiling some world-premiers.
Highlights include the Deus Vayanne, an electric hypercar derived from Formula 1 pedigree by Deus Automobiles, Italdesign, and Williams Advanced Engineering; McLaren’s new supercar Artura – dubbed the supercar for the next generation; and Jetson AeroOne, a one-man electric helicopter, one of three flying machines at this year’s show.
Thierry Boutsen with his winning Shelby Cobra, photo by Monaco Life
For the first time in Top Marques history, the entire ground floor of the Grimaldi Forum has been dedicated to classic cars, organised by Thierry Boutsen from Boutsen Classic Cars – a venture the former F1 driver only started three years ago.
“It is quite an emotional thing, I mean these cars have been living for 60 years and they are still in top condition, sometimes better than new,” Thierry Boutsen told Monaco Life. “Some, like the GT40 for instance, is in exactly the same condition as it was in 1969… the colour, the edging, the gear box … they are all the same. So, all the collectors come here because they have a passion for these types of cars and they can also buy them.”
Some standout favourites for the Belgium, who has enjoyed three Formula 1 successes with Williams-Renault, include the Shelby Cobra that he won the Tour Auto rally in France this year driving.
“Another favourite is the GT40 next to it, a fabulous car built in the 1960s that still looks like a modern car. We have a former F1 Benetton, that Michael Schumacher won the Canadian GP with. We have the jaguar e-type, BMW M1, an old Porsche from 53, and also a 911 which has been totally electrified with a similar system that powers a Tesla today.”
Top Marques runs until Sunday 12th June.
Visit Monaco Life Instagram to see videos of Top Marques 2022, and click on the gallery below to see more of our images…
Top photo: Manuel Vitali, Government Communication Department
AS Monaco’s topsy-turvy season ultimately saw them reach their most important objective: Champions League qualification. But a fruitful summer is required to consolidate their hard-fought success.
Monaco like doing things the hard way. Just as they did in the 2020/21 Ligue 1 season, their fulfilment of pre-season objectives was dependent on a late, end-of-season dash to the podium places. The remontada-à-la-Monégasque is becoming somewhat of a trademark, and whilst the entertainment value for fans, and especially for neutrals, cannot be understated, the club itself will be doing everything in its power to avoid a similar scenario next season.
Appraising Monaco’s season is no easy task; recency bias would leave one to believe that this has been one of the club’s best in recent years. But once the adrenaline subsides, there is a realisation that this was simply a year in which objectives were met, not surpassed.
Getting off on the wrong foot
Elimination from the Champions League at the play-off stage set the tone for a difficult first half to the season. The mental blow of having scuppered last season’s good work permeated into their league form as they struggled for momentum and consistency.
On a personal level, Ruben Aguilar recently admitted that the defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, which was sealed by an own-goal by the French right-back, had haunted him throughout the campaign. It certainly looked for large swathes of the season that the rest of the group struggled to overcome that disappointment.
Niko Kovac, meanwhile, was beginning to lose credit. As the size of last year’s achievements dimmed in the rear-view mirror, pressure grew on him to correct a Monegasque ship that had skewed off-course.
A victory against Rennes just before the short Christmas break looked to have bought the Croatian manager time, but Monaco, known to be uncompromising in their pursuit of success decided to pull the plug in a surprising move.
New man in the door
Thereafter, the management at the club would come under increasing scrutiny. Any success or failure would be traced back to that decision taken in late December and judgements made. Philippe Clement was the man who came in. Not experienced in Ligue 1, but boasting an impressive CV thanks to his exploits at Club Brugge, he had the task of turning Monaco’s season around.
The turnaround was not immediate. A difficult start to his reign on Le Rocher received heavy criticism. Whilst Clement wasn’t absolved of blame, most of the anger was directed towards the club management, who for a moment in the season became public enemy number one in the Principality.
At the time, it wasn’t simply the managerial change that incited the anger of the Stade Louis II regulars, but also the summer transfer dealings. Monaco had successfully retained the key architects of that late season surge in 2020/21, but in the eyes of many, failed to add to it. Many of the summer signings underwhelmed – at least initially – and for that Paul Mitchell was in the firing line.
By the end of March, following ejection from the Europa League and the Coupe de France, things had reached boiling point. As well as an explosive article by L’Équipe, which claimed that Oleg Petrov, Mitchell and Clement were all set to depart on the eve of the match against PSG, banners criticising almost every facet of the club were unfurled throughout the fixture as the fans made their voices heard amidst a hostile atmosphere.
“10 finals”
But it is under seemingly stifling tension and pressure that Monaco thrive. Just like a spring, the more pressure that is applied to them, the stronger they bounce back. Questioned by Monaco Life about the club’s objectives going into the final games of the season in the wake of the club’s aggregate defeat to Braga, Clement evoked his now famous “10 finals” mindset for the first time.
Monaco wouldn’t lose again for the remainder of the season. A 3-0 victory against Champions-in-waiting PSG was a catalyst for an end of season revival. From a position of mid-table mediocrity, Monaco began their charge up the table as the chances of European football went from remote to almost nailed-on within a matter of weeks.
As Clement liked to regularly point out, the “dynamic” within the group was good before the win against PSG, but for the first time all season, Monaco had the wind under their sails, and that all-elusive winning feeling was back.
It was unimaginable that Monaco could be in a position at the end of the season whereby they would have been disappointed with third position, but it was certainly the case. Going into the final game of the season in second, a Lens equaliser deep into injury-time saw Monaco slip back to third as Marseille took the automatic qualification to the Champions League group stage. It was a bittersweet moment, which only highlighted the enormous progress that the Principality side had made in such a short period of time.
Uncertainty lingers
Avoiding a repeat of the errors made last year will be no easy task. This will most likely be a more uncertain and challenging summer than the last. Aurélien Tchouaméni looks certain to leave, likely to Real Madrid, whilst Benoît Badiashile and Wissam Ben Yedder, who together form the backbone of the side, have suitors across the continent. Mitchell will therefore likely be charged with a reconstruction job over the summer.
It is widely accepted that it won’t be possible to replace Tchouaméni with a player of the same calibre, but finding an adequate replacement to plug that gaping hole in the Monégasuqe midfield will be at the top of Mitchell’s to do list. Names such as Yves Bissouma, who have been linked with the club, allude to a high-price, high-profile replacement, which would go some way to alleviating his departure.
But elsewhere, the strategy is unclear. The areas where Monaco wish to recruit have been clearly specified, but the profiles remain unknown, and the names being linked with Monaco give little away.
For captain Ben Yedder, the secret to success will be adding experience to the group this summer. Speaking to L’Équipe, he said, “You can’t say that we’re lacking talent. We lack maybe a bit more experience, and it’s with that that we’ll grow.”
And that will be the key this summer in Monaco: following their model and philosophy of developing young players, whilst ensuring short term success. Whilst the sale of Tchouaméni, potentially for around €100 million, puts into sharp focus the success of this model, the importance of blending that philosophy with a sprinkling of more mature, experienced players will also provide the foundation, which will allow them to continue to attract the best players from around Europe.
This season can be considered mission accomplished for Monaco, but work needs to be done this summer to consolidate that success, both in the short and long-term, as the Principality side look to atone for last year’s errors and treat their fans to a European adventure next season.
Monaco’s main congress and cultural centre, the Grimaldi Forum, is set to grow enormously as it fuses into the new Mareterra eco-district. Here’s what it will look like in just two and a half years’ time.
A year after it celebrates a quarter of a century of existence, the Grimaldi Forum will in 2025 unveil a vast extension, boosting exhibition capacity by an impressive 50%.
The new site, created as part of the land reclamation project, will add an extra 6,000 m2 to the current 35,000 m2 space.
It will consist of three zones: the Diaghilev Gallery, the Carré and Patio Rooms, and the Pinède Hall – the largest of the three spaces. Each will offer plenty of surface area to accommodate exhibition stands and meeting rooms, as well as catering.
In making the most of the Principality’s exceptional location and its 300 days of sunshine per year, 2,000 m2 of outdoor space will also be created, including the new Indigo terrace, the Emeraude Forecourt, the Patio, the Ravel terrace with a view of the open sea, and the covered Patio.
The new dimension is made possible thanks to Mareterra, the new eco-district that is currently under construction by the Monegasque government.
This six-hectare extension of the Principality will offer housing, a car park, shops, restaurants, a pine trees forest and a marina. Answering to very strict environmental requirements, it is part of the Principality’s objective to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
With the 1,500 solar panels installed on the Grimaldi Forum’s roof supplying energy to the surrounding buildings and this new district, it is natural then that the congress and cultural centre, which has been certified ISO 14001 since 2008, is part of this ambitious project.
The recent renovation of the nearby Larvotto beach, with its new shops and restaurants, is an additional asset that will enable congress participants to enjoy all that Monaco has to offer close to the congress centre.
The expansion will allow the Grimaldi Forum to build upon its current ability to host an average of 100 events and 250,000 visitors per year, and will enable more events to be held simultaneously.
Click on the gallery below to see more images of the new-look Grimaldi Forum…
Photos source: GRIMALDI FORUM Monaco
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