Chanel celebrates French luxury craftsmanship

The French luxury fashion house Chanel inaugurated a workshop complex in Paris on Thursday, January 20, where eleven craftsmen will be brought together to produce Chanel creations.

Named 19M, this spectacular 25,000 m² building was designed by the French architect Rudy Ricciotti. Its name has a certain symbolic value as it pays tribute to the designer Gabrielle Chanel, who was born on August 19^th.

Covered with concrete wires designed as gigantic wefts suspended from the roof and falling towards the ground, this seven-storey space is located on the edge of the 19^th arrondissement of Paris, in the north of the capital. It also includes an exhibition space open to the public.

Overall view of the 19M workshop complex. © Chanel

Officially inaugurated on January 20^th, French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron were present at the complex and spent two hours touring the workshops, examining the embroidery work and talking to the artisans on site that day.

“Your craft is an art craft… Your craft is important for the economy,” said Emmanuel Macron during his visit. “Today, when I look at the figures for 2021, it is – fashion – our country’s leading export sector,” he continued.

Who takes up residence at 19M?

For the record, it was originally an initiative by Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard to refocus the need for art and know-how at the heart of fashion. This initiative was first put into practice by highlighting the specialised know-how of its craftsmen during its Métiers d’Art fashion shows. The latest one, unveiled on 7 December 2021, was held in the heart of the 19M.

Since 1985, and particularly since Karl Lagerfeld was appointed artistic director of the fashion house, Chanel has been a real supporter of France’s exceptional craft heritage. Now, it is through the 19M complex that Chanel pays tribute to the 40 partner workshops that it supports.

Chanel Builds a New Home for 11 of Its Specialty Creators - The New York Times — Chanel craftsman at 19M. © Dmitry Kostyukov

11 designers loyal to the House will now take up residence at 19M. Among them are the embroiderers Lesage, the Atelier Montex, the goldsmith Goossens, the hatmaker Maison Michel, the feather-maker Lemarié, the pleater Lognon, and the bootmaker Massaro.

Chanel Métiers d'Art 2021 : L'Artisanat d'Excellence au 19M — Chanel craftsman at 19M. © Dmitry Kostyukov

Around 600 craftsmen will be grouped together on this site, as Chanel is keen to exploit this growth spurt by encouraging collaborative work.

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