THE MÉTIERS D'ART

Shown every year in December, the Métiers d'Art collection, proposes since 2002 a Ready-to-Wear collection – outside of the official show schedule – in order to enlighten exceptional savoir-faire and the work of artisans including costume jewelry and button maker Desrues, feathers and flowers maker Lemarié, hat maker Maison Michel, shoe maker Massaro, embroiderers Lesage and Montex, and glove maker Causse.

Every year, Karl Lagerfeld captures the history of Chanel by designating a city that’s linked to the past or present of the House and by making it the theme of his collection. Karl Lagerfeld thus celebrates the virtuosity of the above ateliers and their specialized savoir-faire while revisiting the codes of Chanel.

The artisans skillfully interpret Karl Lagerfeld's sketches season after season with the utmost devotion. "It’s made in an artisan way, in the very best sense of that word, because in artisan there is "art". The art of doing things well. An applied art. And that is truly wonderful. I think the image of this collection is reflected through this finesse which has to be seen up close, almost touched, to understand how it is done and to really appreciate the beauty of this work," Karl Lagerfeld explains.

Chanel is the only House to have dedicated an entirely separate collection to the Métiers d'Art in order to continue its legacy and extraordinary expertise. For more than ten years this collection has been consistently developed and now enjoys its own identity.

Available in boutiques from May onwards, the Métiers d'Art collection, marries modernity with artisanal savoir-faire and offers clients a refined and elegant Ready-to-Wear wardrobe. The accessories – bags, shoes, costume jewelry and even buttons – are the result of the attention paid to every detail.

The cities of Tokyo, New York, Monte-Carlo, London, Moscow, Shanghai, Byzance, Bombay, Edinburgh, Dallas and soon Salzburg, have all served as backdrop to the presentations of the Chanel Métiers d'Art collections.

© Anne Combaz