Across BORDERS

Hosted at Tokyo Big Sight, Chanel’s 2022/2023 Métiers d’art show in Japan revisited the collection’s boundary-breaking debut in Dakar, Senegal. In an exclusive interview with Aska Yamashita from Montex, Vogue Singapore delves into the spectacle of the one-of-a-kind line-up.

- MAYA MENON

On 6 December 2022, Chanel unveiled its first showing in Africa. Hosted at the former Palais de Justice in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, the French maison revealed its vision for its 2022/23 Métiers d’art collection under the creative orchestration of Virginie Viard. The show, Viard shared, was three years in the making. And with the fog of the pandemic rising, it seemed like the perfect time to explore a newfound jubilance in a continent so widely revered for its creativity, heart and ingenuity.

To the uninitiated, Chanel’s Métiers d’art—which translates to master of art—collection is a dedicated line-up that showcases pieces that have been designed utilising techniques of rare and revered craftsmanship. Straddling the line of ready-to-wear and haute couture, the Métiers d’art line-up is a homage to the maison’s exquisite savoir-faire. It is also a nod to its extensive ateliers and dedicated artisans across Lemarie, Maison Michel, Lesage, Atelier Montex, Goossens and Ateliers Lognon. As initiated by Karl Lagerfeld, each Métiers d’art show has been hosted in a different location, from Paris and Rome to Monte Carlos and Shanghai. The latest city to unveil the one-of-a-kind collection is Tokyo, Japan, which hosted a replica of the maison’s history-making show in Senegal.