Chanel pays tribute to craftsmanship
Chanel’s commitment to its Métiers d’Art collection, presented every year since 2002, deserves recognition. The 2021/2022 show took place at 19M, the House’s new Parisian building dedicated to these exceptional artisans. SoBARNES takes you behind the scenes with the A-listers.
The various specialist trades employed by Chanel to bring its collections to life include over 1,600 embroiderers, feather-makers, costume jewellers, gold and silversmiths, pleaters, bootmakers, hatters, milliner, glove-makers, tanners, leather craftsmen, silk and cashmere experts working in France, Italy, Spain and Scotland. A venue was needed to embody this heritage - cue 19M in the north of Paris, home to 11 of the most prestigious Maisons d’Art. Including Lesage, Massaro, Lognon and Lemarié. We take a glimpse inside, following in the footsteps of Sébastien Tellier, Pharell Williams, Sofia Coppola, Abd al Malik and Carole Bouquet, to name but a few:
The Creative Director of Chanel’s fashion collections, Virginie Viard, could not have chosen a better setting for the Métiers d’Art show presented on 7 December. “I wanted to illustrate each House as best as possible, but with a twist”, explained the Creative Director. An audience of stars came to pay tribute to the excellence of Chanel and the artisans that gravitate within its orbit within this 270,000 sq.ft (25,000 sq.m.) building designed like a manufactory and officially unveiled for the occasion. And the result more than lived up to expectations, with an extraordinary blend of sophistication and urban inspiration.
Wondering why it’s named 19M? The answer is simple: ‘19’ for the arrondissement of Paris where it is located and for Gabrielle Chanel’s lucky number, who was born on 19 August. And ‘M’ for mode (fashion), métiers d’art (craftsmanship), maison (house), and mains (hands)…
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Info: SoBarnes
Pictures ©Chanel
