Chanel to showcase Métiers d'Art collection at Hangzhou's West Lake (#1682709)

As anticipation builds, iconic Parisian fashion house Chanel shares more details about the upcoming Métiers d'Art presentation. After shows held in cities such as Dakar, Paris and Manchester, Chanel's next collection will be unveiled in Hangzhou, located 200 kilometers south of Shanghai. The show will take place “on the mythical West Lake”, in the heart of the city, on December 3.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, West Lake's vast expanse, spanning 15 kilometers in circumference and 3 kilometers in diameter, along with its stunning natural beauty, has long inspired poets and artists alike.

In fact, the legendary lake appears on the 19th-century Coromandel lacquer screen in Gabrielle Chanel's office at 31 Rue Cambon in Paris. As the brand points out in a statement, this screen has been “a source of dream and creativity, feeding the couturier's imagination.”

To promote the event, Chanel recruited renowned German director Wim Wenders and brand ambassador Tilda Swinton. In a short film, Wenders follows Swinton as she explores the Chanel office on Rue Cambon, where she discovers the prized Chinese screen, before traveling to the iconic China Lake. “A true invitation to travel, both in reality and in the imagination, which will be unveiled in its entirety on November 30, 2024,” the brand noted.

Beyond storytelling, Chanel's choice of China is also driven by strategic business considerations. Luxury brands are increasingly holding their events in this market, which remains a vital region despite the slowdown in luxury goods sales following the post-Covid crisis. Hangzhou stands as one of the top 10 luxury cities in China, just behind Beijing and Shanghai.