Riding the Wave

From childhood memories of prototypes to steering the brand toward a sustainable future, Longchamp's creative director Sophie Delafontaine opens up about the surf-inspired Summer 2026 collection and mentoring the next generation of the family business

- By Emma Chong

For Sophie Delafontaine, Longchamp is more than a luxury house; it is a family heirloom, a childhood memory, and a dynamic future all wrapped into one. As the creative director and granddaughter of the brand's founder, Delafontaine occupies a unique space in the fashion world, balancing the weight of a multi-generational legacy with a thoughtful view to modernisation.

Today, Delafontaine balances that familial warmth with the demands of a global fashion house. She is steering Longchamp into a new era—one that embraces the future while protecting its independence as a family-owned company. This duality is central to her work for Summer 2026, a collection that captures the dynamism of a woman who is “active, dynamic, sporty,” and ready to trade the city streets for the surf.

Despite her early exposure to the family trade, Delafontaine did not step immediately into the role. She spent nearly five years at luxury children’s brand Bonpoint, an experience she credits with giving her the necessary confidence to eventually join her father.