3 December 2024
Inspired by the infamous Coromandel screens lining Gabrielle Chanel’s apartment at 31 Rue Cambon, the 2024/25 Metiers d’Art collection was presented on the West Lake in Hangzhou by the CHANEL Creative Studio. A magical show, taking place at night, saw models walking along a dock on the lake, constructed specifically for the event.
Mirroring the detail of the lacquered screens, many of the looks were strong black tweed pieces intertwined with shimmering, sequined and floral elements. Some pieces resembled the screens more closely, looking like they were printed onto jackets, skirts and bodysuits. Patent leather bags and boots also seemed to be recurring throughout, perhaps a nod to the shine of the lacquered screens. For those favouring more colour, pieces in blue, pink, green and red were also presented in various hues pulled from the Hangzhou landscape.
CHANEL described the collection as “an invitation to a poetic voyage” and while watching the show, you could feel this. The combination of the night sky, dreamy view, melodic music and the savoir-faire of each piece gliding over the lake truly felt like an escape into the imagination of Gabrielle Chanel.
