Untamed and wild, the panther, with its stealthy and elegant manner, is the undisputed symbol of Cartier, representing the strongest side of femininity. It first appeared in the French Maison in 1914, through an illustration that depicted a woman and a black panther at her feet, adorned with a jeweled collar. The image suggests a new, free, powerful and refined female figure, coming very close to the character of the feline with which she shares the fiercest and most sinuous side. The panther assumes a fundamental role in the world of luxury, becoming the true representation of Cartier, emphasizing its determined and wild spirit. Jeanne Toussaint is the first woman chosen by Louis Cartier to symbolize the feline’s character, nicknaming her “La Panthère”; today Vanessa Kirby follows in her footsteps, becoming the French Maison’s new ambassador. The British actress proceeds on her own path with determination, a free spirit who, like the panther, feels the need for independence and to remain herself everywhere. Kirby, as the new face of the La Panthère fragrance, takes part in a tale where the panther and Cartier move between abstraction and figuration, between the real and the supernatural.
“The panther never changes its coat.”
The narrative takes place in the heart of the tropical rainforest, where the panther is the figure in charge of the system, walking through the lush vegetation with its head held high, without fear or awe. Similarly, Vanessa Kirby, who appears immersed in this hidden territory guided only by her instincts, also transforms into her alter ego, the feline: a reflection of her predatory and protective personality at the same time. The actress describes the panther as the most ferocious, independent and vulnerable animal, referring to the latter as the deeper side of the character, which remains hidden from the prying eyes of strangers. In the story, the animal represents the wild environment, emphasizing the strong relationship with nature and opening a long and durable dialogue with the figure of the woman, who is in perfect harmony with the space around her. Kirby perceives the complexity and purity of the jungle, capable of stimulating her to release her most intimate and real part: the natural beauty of the female figure appears in the images, accompanied by a determined, mysterious gaze and elegant, sinuous movements. The wild personality is found in the olfactory power of the fragrance, conceived in 2014 to give life to an unprecedented encounter between a historical chypre, a legendary animal musk and a very fresh gardenia. The narrative gives the audience a close look at the Maison Cartier symbol, exploring its unmistakable temperament through a female character, the panther’s alter ego, to emphasize its class and majesty.
“Every woman includes in herself a feline instinct and every flower keeps in its heart animal essences’ notes.”
