Held at Le Café Curieux in Makati, the event was attended by more than a hundred members of the French community in Manila that included H.E. Thierry Mathou, French Ambassador to the Philippines, (left-right, Franck Mesnel, H.E. Thierry Mathou, and Anthony Huang)

Stanislas Camart, Finance Director of Sanofi Philippines and President of the French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, (left-right, Stainlas Caimart, Michel Beaugier, Christophe Lejeune and Claude Adam)Vanessa Hans, Managing Director of the French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines and Bernard Flour, Vice President of the French Chamber of Commerce and Managing Director of Le Cellier French Wine Selection. (left-right, Sarah D’ Aboville and Vanessa Hans)Other VIPs such as Stephane Perchenet, Director of Business France in the Philippines, Philippe Gauthier, President of France Philippines United Action, Florian Paquelin, President of CCEF Philippines, Christophe Lejeune, Conseiller Consulaire, Richard Masselin, General Manager of Pan Pacific Hotel, Warren Tan, President of Chemisource Unlimited Corporation, Rene Lazaro, President of Infinite Travel and Tour, and Romain Charpentier, Co-Founder of EcashContent Limited were present. (left-right, Natalie Tan, Warren Tan, and Bernard Flour)Also in attendace was SSI Group Inc. President, Mr. Anthony Huang and rugby players of the Philippine Volcanoes along with members of the French Chamber of Commerce, French Embassy, and French foreign trade advisors. Guests celebrated with wines from Le Cellier and hors d’oeuvres prepared by the restaurant served abundantly throughout the evening.ABOUT FRANCK MESNEL & EDEN PARK

When Franck Mesnel speaks of Eden Park, rugby is never too far behind. Mixing styles has always been part of the way he thinks. For years, he was the front man of top-class rugby (56 selections for the French Rugby Team), on the hunt for new adventures (architect student at the Beaux Arts, publicist, entrepreneur) and cultivated elegance and humor in sport.

His greatest success dates back to 1987 with the Racing Club de France. In the final of the French Championships at the Parc des Princes against Toulon, Franck Mesnel and his teammates played the match wearing pink bow ties around their necks. Why a pink bow tie? “We came up with this idea the night before the game,” he remembers. They may have lost the game but they entered into sporting history.

A true Parisian, Franck Mesnel does not have the classic profile of a rugby player. At the time, rugby was an amateur sport which paid little. After his architect studies, Franck Mesnel needed to find a job. He started at Euro RSCG, and became a junior publicity officer. Sharing his time between training sessions and his new job, his timetable was not like that of his colleagues. For a long time he played with the ideas of ecological architecture, piloting and wine making. In the end, he decided to enter the textile market and to become the first to make the rugby jersey a fashionable item.

He created the brand in November 1988. For 7 years, he continued to play with the French Rugby Team, a team which he is very proud to dress today.

Presently, Eden Park is a leader on the market and Franck Mesnel is still very much involved in the day-to-day running of the company.

In the Philippines, Eden Park is located at Central Square in Bonifacio High Street Central, Estancia in Capitol Commons, and Kiss and Fly in NAIA Terminal 3. Visitfacebook.com/EdenParkPhilippines and follow @ssilifeph on Instagram for more information.