Chanel Announces First Ever Manchester Fashion Show

Luxury fashion house Chanel has announced that its annual Métiers d'Art show will take place in Manchester this year, with the exact location yet to be confirmed.

The world famous fashion house will host its much-anticipated show on 7th December, with fashion fans across the globe amazed to discover it will take place in Manchester.

In previous years, the Métiers d'Art - which translates to Master of Art - has been held in the likes of Tokyo, New York, Dakar and Edinburgh.

But this year, it's the former 'Cottonopolis' that fashionistas will flock to to see one of the industry's biggest and most iconic annual events.

Historically, the brand has chosen cities that are linked to its history, leaving many to speculate that Chanel may pay homage to Manchester's cotton trade history.

However some have joked that the quirky northern city is a far cry from Shanghai’s Huangpu river or a Parisian palace, with the show having previously been held at both of these locations.

Likely contenders to host the Manchester show include the new Aviva Studios (formerly known as Factory International), Castlefield Viaduct, New Century Hall or Mayfield Park.

Brits have expressed their amusement at the thought of the likes of Anna Wintour partying in local Manchester bars following the show, with one tweeting: "Chanel Métiers d’art show is going to be in Manchester this year- I hope this means I'm going to find Anna Wintour at 5th ave afterwards."

Another joked: “OMG. The Chanel Métiers d’art show will take place in Manchester this year. I have visions of a runway down the Corrie cobblestones, flanked by a FROW of WAGs and a LOT of cotton in the collection. Let’s see if I’m proven correct. I could NOT be more excited for this.”

Speaking to Drapers, Paul Alger, director of international business development at the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT), said: "One of the things about Manchester is that a lot of people don’t know about it [as a fashion destination] or think to go there, so it gives them the chance to realise what it has to offer as a city."

One tweeter agreed: “Manchester has some iconic music too, ngl this is gonna be sick. The north deserves much more attention.”

Speaking on how the show will impact local students, Professor Liz Barnes, head of Manchester Fashion Institute at MMU, told Drapers that the show 'represents a fantastic opportunity for our students who study arts, culture, design, branding and communication to see one of the most high-profile luxury brands in the world on the doorstep and shine a light on fashion in Manchester.'

Chanel's Métiers d'Art show will take place on 7th December 2023 in Manchester, with the exact location to be released nearer the time.

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