Under the spell of Hangzhou’s legendary West Lake, Chanel unveiled its 2024/25 Métiers d’art collection —a harmonious fusion of heritage and modernity. The show, a tribute to the exquisite handiwork of the Fashion Métiers d’art, found its perfect setting in this historic Chinese city, renowned for its silk trade and cultural significance. The lake, a muse to countless poets and artists, provided the backdrop for Chanel’s latest narrative of artistry, inspired by the creative vision of Gabrielle Chanel herself.
Gabrielle Chanel’s connection to Hangzhou was rooted in imagination. Though she never visited China, her Parisian home housed a remarkable collection of Coromandel screens, including one depicting West Lake — a piece she admired daily. “I would faint with happiness when I walked into a Chinese art dealer and saw a Coromandel,” she once remarked. These 17th to 19th-century treasures, adorned with intricate motifs, became a wellspring for her creativity, shaping her designs in the 1950s and 60s.
This enduring bond between Chanel and Hangzhou inspired acclaimed director Wim Wenders to create a poetic film unveiled alongside the collection. Featuring Chanel ambassadors Tilda Swinton, Xin Zhilei, and Leah Dou, the film blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, past and present. A cinematic homage to Gabrielle Chanel’s creative dreaming, it reimagines her cherished screen as a portal to exploration, now expanded by contemporary technologies.
Romantic elements weave through the collection, with floral camellia and lotus embroidery by Lesage, pleated and flounced dresses by Lemarié, and ethereal blouses with ruff collars and gold lace — each a nod to Gabrielle Chanel’s own elegance. Faded denim conjures the ripples of West Lake, while the richness of jade green, soft pink, and sky blue evokes the vibrant hues of lacquered panels. Accessories like thigh-high boots, reflective mid-calf styles, and medallions shaped by ancient Chinese artistry ground the collection in historical reverence, while hats and scarves from Maison Michel add a playful finishing touch.
Discover the collection and watch the film here.
photography. Chanel, Donata Wenders
words. Gennaro Costanzo
