Max Mara has now been open for four months and is doing well. He says that they are already considering what will be next. Whatever it is will be high end.

"Luxury is the only way to go in Bermuda. There's a message for the industry," he says. "I hope that the new Coopers development on Front Street will be a Ralph Lauren, that's what I would do with it."

It is refreshing to come across someone opinionated and not afraid to criticise. You never know what they are going to say next. For starters, he is not very complimentary aboutGazette today," he says pointing to the Wednesday 28th issue "Tiny Monaco Thinks Big" article about Monaco's floating dock which will accommodate luxury cruise liners. He thinks that Bermuda has a lot to learn from the Principality.

"Hamilton should be twinned with Monaco," he says. Unfortunately, however, he has grown cynical about the government's or Corporation of Hamilton's ability to take note of such ideas and declined an invitation to join the Chamber of Commerce.

It strikes me that Mr. Dutoya must be a challenging opponent in a negotiation. It's not that he is unfriendly. On the contrary, he is outgoing, almost exuberant, but he is a bit difficult to read. Certainly the original flavour of the Calypso stock depends on an unrelenting attitude to vendors. He demands exclusivity contracts wherever possible and bemoans the fact that US legislation prevents such arrangements with US vendors. In his opinion, it is not good for the industry: "Pretty soon you are going to see Ralph Lauren in K-Mart".

According to Mr. Dutoya, you see a lot of repetition of stock in different Bermuda department stores because of this.

As for the Hornburg Calypso stores, he says: "Our survival is to be original and to always find something new." This has proved easier to achieve with European brands such as Benetton and Max Mara where they have sole agent rights and another French label for Calypso, So La La, gives them an exclusive guarantee. But they also have a formula for US suppliers which ensures originality but keeps on the right side of the US law: "As soon as a competitor tries to steal a brand, we abandon it."

Walking into the store, you are immediately struck that the clothes are unusual. Mr. Dutoya is reluctant to say how Calypso is perceived.

"For that we should go out onto the street and ask someone", but he agrees that they have a reputation for being different and exciting, adding: "Colourful. Living in Bermuda, we are under the sun so we want to have colour." Asked where he buys his clothes in Bermuda reveals an irony. He replies: " I don't own many clothes".

Perhaps Hornburg Calypso should move into men's fashion.

"The day we have exhausted the women's market, we'll move into the men's market."

But there does not seem much possibility of that.

As he points out: "The designs, the colours are infinite".