Chanel
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Chanel ( , ) is an Anglo-French luxury fashion house founded in 19101 by Coco Chanel in Paris. It is privately owned by French brothers, Alain and Gérard Wertheimer, through the holding company Chanel Limited, established in 20181 and headquartered in London. Chanel specialises in women's ready-to-wear, luxury goods, and accessories and licenses its name and branding to Luxottica for eyewear. Chanel is well known for its No. 5 perfume and "Chanel Suit". Chanel is credited for revolutionising haute couture and ready-to-wear by replacing structured, corseted silhouettes with more functional garments that women still found flattering.
Chanel ( , ) is an Anglo-French luxury fashion house founded in 1910 by Coco Chanel in Paris. It is privately owned by French brothers, Alain and Gérard Wertheimer, through the holding company Chanel Limited, established in 2018 and headquartered in London. Chanel specialises in women's ready-to-wear, luxury goods, and accessories and licenses its name and branding to Luxottica for eyewear. Chanel is well known for its No. 5 perfume and "Chanel Suit". Chanel is credited for revolutionising haute couture and ready-to-wear by replacing structured, corseted silhouettes with more functional garments that women still found flattering.
History
Les Rendez-vous littéraires rue Cambon
Former creative director Virginie Viard and brand ambassador Charlotte Casiraghi organised the Rendez-vous podcast to celebrate literature in general but especially in the context of female emancipation. The Rendez-vous brought together Chanel brand ambassadors, literary historians and critics, and mostly female authors to talk about books. Generally the interviews were held in the 7L bookstore in Paris or the Rue Cambon headquarters of the fashion house, although for special episodes, like the English-language debut to honor Virginia Woolf, a historical setting like Somerset House would be chosen. The episodes for the podcast, transmitted in both audio and video format, were structured around discussion panels. There would also be transmissions of individual women talking "in the library" about the books that shaped their love of reading. One-on-one interviews, such as between literary critic Erica Wagner and author Bénédicte Dupré la Tour, would be framed as Les Rencontres. Wagner and Casiraghi also did "rencontres" for Summer Reading and Winter Reading discussions. The literary scholar Fanny Arama was a regular on the Rendez-vous episodes. Chanel sponsored a special supplement to System magazine's 18th issue, focused on how Les Rendez-vous littéraires rue Cambon as a project honors the link between fashion and literature in emancipating women. For the 15th edition in October 2024, there was a panel led by Casiraghi, guest Emmanuelle Lambert, journalist Olivia Gesbert, and Chanel ambassador Clémence Poésy to honor the legacy of Colette as a keystone in the movement to emancipate women.
Corporate identity
The Chanel logotype comprises two interlocked, opposed letters C, one faced left and the other faced right. The logotype was given to Chanel by the Château de Crémat, Nice, and was not registered as a trademark until the first Chanel shops were established. The logo is commonly known to stand for "Coco Chanel" and has become one of the most recognisable logos in the world. It has also become the symbol of prestige, luxury, and class. In 2022, Chanel donated €2 million towards Care and UNHCR. The money will go to Ukraine to help it during the Russian invasion. Worldwide, Chanel S.A. operates around 310 Chanel boutiques; 94 in Asia, 70 in Europe, 10 in the Middle East, 128 in North America, 1 in Central America, 2 in South America, and 6 in Oceania. The shops are located in wealthy communities, usually in department stores like Harrods and Selfridges, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, high streets, shopping districts, and inside airports. In 2015, the company paid a record $152 million for 400 North Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. This is the most expensive amount paid for retail space in Los Angeles. In October 2020, the company bought its flagship Bond Street boutique in London for £310 million.
Products
Colognes
Makeup and skincare
Cosmetics are the most accessible Chanel product, with counters in department stores across the world, including Harrods, Galeries Lafayette, Bergdorf Goodman, Hudson's Bay and David Jones, Wojooh, Selfridges, John Lewis & Partners and Boots as well as its own beauty boutiques.
Fine jewellery
Chanel 'High Jewellery' was founded in November 19321. Chanel debuted 'Bijoux de Diamants' at her Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris mansion. It was also the first high-end jewellery collection created by a fashion designer. The 'Bijoux de Diamants' was inspired by celestial forms such as stars, comets, and the moon. Gabrielle Chanel designed an estimated 50 pieces with white and yellow diamonds set in platinum and yellow gold. The collection, a collaboration with the London Diamond Corporation, aimed to revitalise the diamond trade during the Great Depression. In 2012, the company created a special collection to celebrate Diamants' 80th anniversary. Current collections include High Jewelry, Camelia, Comete, Coco Crush, Baroque, 1932, Ultra, Bridal and Jewelry Watches.
Watches
The Chanel wristwatch division was established in 19871. In 1995, division presented a second design, the Matelassé. Although the Première and Matelassé wristwatches were successful products, the presentation, in 2000, of the Chanel J12 line of unisex style wristwatches, made of ceramic materials, established Chanel wristwatches as a Chanel marque. The J12 line of wristwatches features models in four dial-face sizes: 33mm, 38mm, 41mm, and 42mm. In 2008, Chanel S.A. and Audemars Piguet developed the ceramic Chanel AP-3125 clockwork, exclusive to the House of Chanel. As of 2024, Chanel holds 25% stake in MB&F, 20% in F. P. Journe and undisclosed stakes in Romain Gauthier and Bell & Ross.
Wine
Chanel owns the wineries Château Rauzan-Ségla, Château Canon, St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery, and Domaine de i'lle located on the island of Porquerolles in the Cotes de Provence AOP.
Swimwear
In 2018, Chanel acquired clothing brand Orlebar Brown, specialising in tailored men's swim shorts.
Gallery
File:Chanel 2.55.jpg|Chanel handbag in quilted-leather with adjustable double-chains to wear on the arm or shoulder. File:1965 Chanel suit and silk blouse detail2.jpg|A 1965 Chanel suit showing the chain that is a distinctive technique for constructing a Chanel suit. It gives even light-weight materials a good drape and stabilise the suit as it weighs down the hem. File:Baudouin 1969.jpg|Belgian King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola visit the Nixon White House with a quilted leather Chanel handbag in 1969. File:Chanel Original Robot Clutch.jpg|Chanel original Robot clutch
References
External links
Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1378640485 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.