Renowned for their creative spectacle as much as for the collections themselves, a Chanel show is a masterclass in world-building. From a supermarket simulation to an aircraft hangar, Chanel can bring any space to life with its rich artistry and the craft of storytelling. Case in point? The Maison’s 2024/25 Metiers d’art show.
Inspired by Gabrielle Chanel’s famed love of Chinese lacquer art – it even graced the study walls of her Paris apartment at 31, rue Cambon – the Chanel Metiers d’art collection was presented like a Coromandel screen itself.
Shown at nightfall on the glossy, still waters of Hangzhou’s West Lake, the collection appeared like a mirage. Models walked the runway in homage to Gabrielle Chanel’s creative universe, illustrating the collection’s dedication to travel, allure, and dreams.
Phosphorescent jade green, shell pink and sky blue pieces were illuminated against the drama of the black waters, while the reflection served to create a mirroring effect as models seemed to float in space.
Paying tribute to the Maisons d’art that craft every detail of the Chanel world, this collection featured intricate motifs that brought the Coromandel screens into three dimensions. Luminous braiding embroidered by Atelier Montex made garments seem to glow against the backdrop of the night. Silk satin lined jackets were finished with frogging by Paloma, while floral Camellia and Lotus motifs embroidered by Lesage seemed drawn directly from the lacquer art so beloved by Mademoiselle Chanel.
Graphic pockets were a recurring theme, a nod to the collection’s ode to travel. Appearing on bags and jackets with a structural, envelope-like shape, they reference letter-writing in a romantic, old-world sense. The travel theme rang true throughout, with travel bags and vanity cases paired with classic Chanel tweed, culottes and cropped trousers.
Romance was high, with sensual silhouettes expressed through voluminous pleating, flounces and ruffles by Lemarié and Lognon. With straight-cut jackets belted at the waist and expert layering of lace, embroidery and negligees, the Metiers d’art collection transported us to a dreamlike world in which models seemed to emerge from the lake itself.
Accompanied by a short film by director Wim Wenders and starring CHANEL ambassadors Tilda Swinton, Leah Dou and Xin Zhilei, the Metiers d’art show was a conceptual journey from Paris to Huangzhou, imbued with the romance of yesteryear. Proof, once again, that fashion really can transport you anywhere.
