CHANEL METIERS D'ART 2018/19 PARIS-NEW YORK

Karl Lagerfeld presented the 2018/19 Chanel Métiers d’art collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, under the Temple of Dendur. A golden collection inspired by Egypt, composed by long white chiffon gowns, oversize glinting bouclé jackets and miniskirts shaped to reference the wrapped skirts of Egyptian men visible in temple paintings, exaggerated plastron collars, details with colored stones, gold leather trousers, there was also blouson distressed denim and degradé leather trousers and graffiti prints by the artist Cyril Kongo, an homage to New York street culture and to hieroglyphics, to complete the looks: gold leather boots crocodile printed.
But what looked like crocodile on the catwalk at the Met was in fact mock croc; what looked like lizard was vegan pineapple leather.
“It has become increasingly difficult to source exotic skins that match our ethical standards,” said Bruno Pavlovsky, Chanel’s president of fashion. “Meanwhile we are investing a lot in research and development, and the innovations in alternative materials that are happening in our ateliers are phenomenal.”
The Chanel Métiers d'Art collections are hand-worked but sold on the shop floor rather than made to order in the pure tradition of haute couture.