LE BOOK celebrates 40 YEARS !
Written By Lindsay Comstock
History
Since its founding in Paris in 1982 by Véronique Kolasa, LE BOOK has led the way as a platform for connecting professionals and showcasing top talent in the fashion, beauty, design, photography, advertising, entertainment and luxury industries.
Kolasa’s vision for the company grew out of a private resource she’d designed for her creative community in Paris. Calling it LE BOOK, she expanded it into a guide meant to be collected.
Four decades in, “The Bible of the Image Industry,” has garnered an unparalleled global presence. Both a virtual and print reference for information and inspiration, LE BOOK has become key to the international production world; a Who’s Who of contemporary talent, featuring more than 50,000 creative professionals at the top of their respective industries.
Each LE BOOK directory is as artfully designed as the work it contains within its pages, with directories for New York, London, Berlin and Paris.
LE BOOK’s Group CEO at The Conversion Group, Richard Stoppard, says he’s excited for the trajectory of the brand, which continues to pivot and expand.
LE BOOK has a hard-won reputation for being at the centre of the creative industry. I am hugely proud that this reputation is still in place after 40 years,” he says. “LE BOOK sets itself apart from its competition due to its collaborative partner-driven approach; we diligently research the brands and talent we bring together with the aim of ensuring there is interest and collaborative space on both sides. To do this we curate our offering and work with creatives to showcase their very best products to their target market.
LE BOOK 365
This includes the launch of LE BOOK 365, an online platform and mobile app of the iconic directory, designed as a highly-curated directory for connecting clients with agency partners in Print, Digital, Motion, Production, Post-Production, Animation, CGI, New Technology, and beyond.
“As you would expect from LE BOOK, we want to keep ourselves current [and the app] allows the brand to be accessed by a wider audience,” Stoppard says.
CONNECTIONS
Since 2005, LE BOOK has also come alive during its in-person CONNECTIONS events, a custom-built trade show where the creative community gathers in celebration of the image. Artist agencies, film and post-production houses, VR/AR studios, social media strategists, experiential agencies and other leading experts come together to showcase their talent and portfolios, create networks and discover new partners. Each event also includes juried Creative Awards for distinguished work in several creative industries.
And like many companies, Stoppard says, LE BOOK had to pivot during the pandemic. This ultimately, was how the CONNECTIONS Digital Events were born.
Today, CONNECTIONS includes a combination of digital and physical trade shows in London, Paris, Milan, Geneva, Berlin, Amsterdam, Stockholm, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Latin America. Soon CONNECTIONS will include Barcelona, Mexico City and Miami.
What’s on the horizon for LE BOOK’s next 40 years?
“Continued growth,” says Stoppard. “We see the future of LE BOOK as both a physical and digital place for Brands, Creatives, Emerging Creatives and Market Creators to come together, celebrate the beauty and innovation of creativity—and to be a real home for Creatives around the world.”
In the immediate future, LE BOOK fans can look forward to the brand’s partnership with the UBooker talent booking platform; a partnership with Soho House; and the launch of LE BOOK “Fireside.”
Stay tuned for more information on these initiatives as well as industry news, behind-the-scenes interviews with top creatives, and articles highlighting artistic innovation on this platform.