3 questions for . . . Bruno Geeraert Head of the Textile, Fashion and Luxury Industries Division, DGCIS (General Directorate for Competitiveness, Industry and Services)

‘The DGCIS mission is to help every French business, large or small’.

Under the supervision of three Ministries, the DGCIS organizes numerous activities for the fashion profession. Bruno Geeraert, the Department Head for our industry, explains the outlines of his mission, which goes from identifying need to creating projects.

We often hear the DGCIS mentioned in discussions about our industry. Can you tell us how and in which domains the DGCIS operates?

The Direction Générale de la Compétitivité, de l’Industrie et des Services (General Directorate for Competitiveness, Industry and Services) was created in January 2009, following the merger of several units which oversaw policies about industry, artisans, tourism and other sectors. 1,500 staff members in Paris and other regions work under the direction of three Ministers: Arnaud Montebourg – Minister for Industrial Recovery; Fleur Pellerin – Minister for Small and Medium Sized Businesses, Innovation and the Digital Economy; and Sylvia Pinel – Minister for Artisans, Commerce and Tourism. We do the hands-on work for these three Ministries who turn to us for help according to their objectives. The DGCIS mission is to help every French business, large or small. We are in constant contact with business representatives and together we decide which programs to create. They could concern pro-industry legislation or organization (calls to join a collective action, support for R&D projects, participation in training programs, etc.). We also present one-time events, such as conferences on different themes pertinent to the industry: helping emerging fashion brands, encouraging operational excellence, fighting counterfeit goods, promoting best apparel subcontracting practices and more.

What is the structure of this division focused on textiles and the fashion and luxuries industries?

Together with my colleagues, we form a team dedicated to the personal accessories industries. That includes textiles and apparel via ready-to-wear and couture (the Ministry of Industry confers the ‘haute couture’ label to fashion houses); leather in the upstream (tanneries) and downstream (footwear, leathergoods and gloves) phases; fine and costume jewellery, horology, silversmiths and goldsmiths; and finally eyewear. Each of these sectors is covered by one of my colleagues, and my role is to lead them in fulfilling their responsibilities and to manage the department’s activities. Our objective is clear, since it’s part of our supervising Ministry for Industrial Recovery’s guidelines.

Our mission is immense, but the dedication and renown of Arnaud Montebourg give us visibility. The projects we undertake come from ongoing dialogues with the Presidents of the involved federations, with centres techniques industriels (CTI), the comités professionnels de développement économique (CPDE) and even with business owners. My role includes being a co-rapporteur in the Fashion and Luxury Goods Industry Steering Committee, whose Vice President is Balenciaga CEO Isabelle Guichot. Daniel Wertel, Fédération Française du Prêt à Porter Féminin President, is also a member. The CSF Mode and Luxe (Fashion and Luxury Steering Commitee) determines the overall direction based on suggestions from the working groups I lead. This process means we include all the fashion industry players.

So, a normal day for you includes very different activities?

That’s for sure (laughs)! A usual day could include going to Italy on a fact finding mission for fashion and luxury, or creating a Franco-Japanese working group on textile techniques, or a series of visits to textile related factories across France. My colleagues and I also often attend the meetings between professionals (in particular Federation Presidents) and the Ministry cabinet. In fact, we are in daily contact with the Federations. For example, I was invited by Daniel Wertel to the Fédération Française du Prêt à Porter Féminin to present the “Overview of Expertise for the Fashion and Luxury Goods Industries” study on 17 October. This report is a strategic tool based on an idea from one of the CSF fashion and luxury working groups. It gives an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of all the links in the industrial fashion chain and the necessary actions to assure the chain’s long-term health. In 2011 we also contributed to the creation of an official training program run by Opcalia for business owners and managers. The curriculum helps participants to better understand today’s challenges of management, innovations, etc. To summarize, we set up practical solutions to meet the real-life needs brought to our attention through daily contact with professionals.