Chanel's Next Métiers d'art Showcase Is Taking Place in Manchester, Here's Why
It makes more sense than you’d think.
Chanel recently announced that its annual Métiers d’art collection showcase would be unveiled in Manchester, marking a pretty big departure from previous locales like Dakar, Tokyo and New York.
Though the newfound location might seem surprising to some, it actually makes a lot more sense than we might think. Chanel’s Métiers d’art collections have been taking place every year since 2002, and exist in order to “celebrate the savoir-faire of the Métiers d’art and their central importance to fashion, today and tomorrow,” as per the press release.
Locations are chosen based on their ability to inspire the House, alongside their proximity to artisanal heritage and design. As a result, Manchester, a city with a rich history in garment development and a longstanding legacy of cotton manufacture, makes a seemingly more purposeful addition to the list.
Speaking to BusinessLive about the rise in fashion brands operating out of Manchester, Chris Fletcher, policy and campaigns director at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, adds, “Manchester is steeped in and some would say built on the legacy from cotton manufacturing and when you look at great historical landmark buildings like the Royal Exchange you get a sense of how dominant the city was in the world of textile manufacture.”
Alongside a longstanding history in fashion production, the move towards cities like Manchester and away from typical hubs like London, form part of a wider shift within the industry that signals key cities like Paris, Milan and London aren’t the be-all and end-all they once were for fashion and that in fact, looking to rising communities in other parts of the country can be the secret to success.
Chanel’s 2023/24 Métiers d’art collection showcase will take place on December 7 in Manchester, UK. Stay tuned for more details.
In other news, Nike x Martine Rose get the USNWT prepped for World Cup season.
