Manchester is used to hosting high profile events, drawing the eyes of the world to our wonderful city. Just recently we’ve hosted The Ashes at Manchester Emirates Old Trafford, the largest exhibition of works by Yayoi Kusama in the world at the brand new Factory International, and of course, some of the biggest musicians in the world at our venues, including Elton John. Now, world-famous fashion house Chanel has announced it will utilise Manchester for its 2023/24 Metiers d’Art fashion show, in a first for the house.
As the birthplace of Britpop, the heart of the industrial revolution, a petri dish for world-altering geniuses, and, of course, the best multicultural population of amazing people, why wouldn’t you host a fashion show in Manchester?
Chanel fashion shows consistently take place in the wildest of locations all over the world, with last December’s jaunt being hosted in Dakar, Senegal, and historical spectacles on rivers in the far climbs of Shanghai. Of course, we love Manchester, but we’re most definitely excited to see how the Chanel team can transform an area of our city into a haute couture spectacle, as though we’re sunning on the Seine.
Obviously, Chanel has a long and famous history, dating back from the days of Coco Chanel herself, all the way until the present day, with the house being run by French designer Virginie Viard. Chanel was famously a favourite of Old Hollywood stars including Audrey Hepburn, who showcased staple pieces such as the little black dress inspired by Coco Chanel in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The fashion house now benefits from ambassadors of the same Hollywood vein such as Margot Robbie and Margaret Qualley, who regularly present Chanel pieces at their red carpet events.
When and where will the Chanel 2023/24 Metiers d’Art fashion show take place?
Although the Chanel show is a strictly invite-only event, it will be held on Thomas Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter on December 7, and will no doubt showcase the newest and greatest in haute couture fashion. Construction work has been carried out on Thomas Street to create a 115m-long canopy and features a glass roof (because you never know when it might rain in Manchester), with many locals requesting it remains on the street after the show.
The film of the show will be revealed on Friday, December 8th 2023 at 9am Manchester time, 10am Paris time.
What can we expect from the show?
Revealing the first (and very limited) details on their social media pages and website, Chanel posted an image announcing the news where in the background there is a collage of images in oranges and blacks. The collage features the iconic striped lines design of the Hacienda nightclub, as well as images of revellers at a rave, suggesting the legendary Manchester music venue has inspired this show.
The collage also features an archive image of The Factory, the headquarters of Factory Records founded by Manchester legends Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus in 1978, giving a nod to Manchester’s music scene and industrial history. Also pictured is the iconic photograph by Kevin Cummins of Manchester band Joy Division taken in the snow on Hulme’s Epping Walk Bridge back in 1979. So, as you can imagine there will most likely be a catwalk playlist featuring these Manchester artists.
Chanel also confirmed that the poster that’s being used was designed by the legendary Manc Peter Saville. They even chose a New Order song to soundtrack the first promotional video to be released about the show on December 7.
Plus, you can see an archive photograph of the Suffragettes with Manchester-born Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Sylvia and Christabel demonstrating in the 1900s. In addition there are archive images of “TV City” giving reference to Manchester’s Granada Studios, as well as archive images of the Northern Quarter and city centre.
Why is Manchester hosting the Chanel 2023/24 Metiers d’Art fashion show?
According to the fashion house, Chanel has chosen to present the 2023/24 Métiers d’Art show in Manchester as it considers it “one of the most effervescent cities of pop culture and an avant-garde one, whose bands, spanning all genres, have changed the history of music”. Manchester also has the largest concentration of fashion students and undergraduates in the UK outside London, as well as smaller-scale designers.
Chanel’s choice of location is presumably also connected to Manchester’s history at the heart of the textiles trade. One of the derelict buildings on Thomas St was saved from demolition because it’s a rare example of weavers’ small-scale workshop dwellings that were built as the industrial revolution took off in the city in the 18th Century.
And it’s not the first time that Manchester has hosted a fashion show. Last year, designer to the stars Haider Ackermann chose to showcase his collaboration with sportswear brand Fila at Manchester’s Depot Mayfield, known for hosting renowned club night The Warehouse Project; if that was good enough for the likes of stars such as Emma D’Arcy and Andrew Garfield, it should be good enough for friends of Chanel including Naomi Campbell and Penelope Cruz.
Which celebrities are likely to be present?
The likes of Pharrell Williams, Lily-Rose Depp and Kristen Stewart have been regulars at the Metiers d’Art in recent years, while Timothée Chalamet and Riley Keough are currently Chanel brand ambassadors, so perhaps we will spot them there. Former Manchester residents David and Victoria Beckham are also popular tips, while other suggestions range from Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian to local legends Liam Gallagher and Gail from Corrie.
What road closures will be in place?
Everyone, take note, there are quite a few:
Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 December: 2pm – 10pm
- High Street, between Copperas Street and Nicolas Croft
- Soap Street, between High Street and Thomas Street
- Salmon Street
- Copperas Street, between High Street and Oak Street
- Edge Street, between High Street and Oak Street
- Back Turner Street, between High Street and John Street
- Turner Street, between High Street and John Street
- Kelvin Street, between Back Turner Street and Turner Street
- John Street, between Turner Street and Thomas Street
- Brick Street, between Back Turner Street and Turner Street
- Back Thomas Street, between Thomas Street and Back Turner Street
10pm Wednesday 6 December until 3am Thursday 7 December
- Copperas Street, between High Street and Oak Street
- High Street, between Thomas Street and Copperas Street
10pm Thursday 7 December until 8am Friday 8 December
- Copperas Street, between High Street and Oak Street
- High Street, between Thomas Street and Copperas Street
Find out more details here.