Maison de Mode Hosted a Cozy, South American-Infused Dinner to Celebrate Silvia Tcherassi

Leave it to Carmen Busquets to bring the sun to Paris as rain and grey skies covered the city most of the week. Last night, the Venezuelan fashion entrepreneur (she was a cofounding investor in Net-a-Porter) threw a colorful tropical dinner party in the intimacy of her Parisian home.

The event was co-hosted by Hassan Pierre—cofounder of the eco-minded retailer Maison de Mode along with Amanda Hearst—and celebrated their longtime friend, the Colombian designer Silvia Tcherassi for the launch of her sustainable “Totumo” handbag on the platform.

“Maison de Mode brings a new way of raising awareness on sustainability in luxury,” commented Busquets, who joined the company as a third partner in 2018. “As I am known for my investments in fashion, I have a responsibility to remind the industry about unsustainable practices and over-consumerism and to empower artisans. This is a project that I have been supporting since the beginning and we are happy to voice Silvia’s commitment tonight.”

Guests were greeted with Caribbean cocktails as they entered the private residence. The room was set with vibrant tropical flower arrangements by Flowerbx, red, blue and yellow ambient lights echoed the Venezuelan and Colombian colors, and Latin music finished to set the mood. Many artworks covered the space, including a Daniel Buren in situ mural installation, colorful Ettore Sottsass totems, as well as a John Baldessari picture which served as the backdrop for most photos.

The unique handbags—crafted from the round dried fruit of South America’s Totumo tree and lined with recycled fabrics from Tcherassi’s collections—were displayed on a custom-made Arik Levy black wooden coffee table in the center of the living room. “The bag is very natural,” said the designer whose collections have constantly been inspired by nature throughout her 30-year career. “They are made from a cousin of the coconut, native to our homeland, and we are super excited to launch it with Maison de Mode and support their cause”.

In attendance were the cohosts’s close entourage including the likes of Constance Jablonski, Gabriela Hearst, Julie Gilhart, Ellen von Unwerth, Princess Deena Abdulaziz, Caroline Daur, Tamu McPherson, Shala Monroque, Angela Basset, Jenke Ahmed Tailly, Erica Pelosini, Esteban Cortazar, and Begum Khan. Starting with Caviar Kaspia arepas served for aperitifs, the dinner followed with a traditional Latin inspired menu that featured a myriad of Venezuelan local dishes, an exotic guanabana pavlova with coconut sorbet for dessert, and tequila shots for the most adventurous.

Busquets, who wore a black mini balloon dress from Christopher Kane—another designer that she supports—was in high spirits. “My home is a pied-a-terre in Paris that I love to use to host intimate events for people I love and support. It has a warm and friendly environment that makes people comfortable and allows them to be themselves.” Indeed, the evening was delightful and felt like the perfect break from the usual fashion week circuit.