From the conceptualising the little black dress that revolutionised fashion and turned black from a colour of mourning into an emblem of sophistication and grace. Coco Chanel’s legacy is defined by her minimalist designs that prioritised comfort, breaking free from the restrictive fashion of her time. Her focus on simpler lines and practical yet stylish garments, like the Chanel suit, empowered women with a newfound sense of freedom and self-expression in their clothing. The “Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto” exhibition at the Power Station of Art in Shanghai presents this legacy.
Including over 200 pieces from the Palais Galliera collections, the brand’s heritage archives, and other international museums, the exhibition provides a detailed view of the designer’s six-decade-long career. These museums include the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Arizona State University FIDM Museum in Los Angeles, the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Shanghai marks the fourth stop in the exhibition’s worldwide journey. It first made its debut at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, in 2021, where it quickly drew the attention of people down under. From there, it ventured to Tokyo’s Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum in 2022. Last September, it continued its journey at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, bringing Chanel’s charm to the British capital. Now, as it arrives in Shanghai, the exhibition will be open to the public from July 12, 2024, until November 24, 2024.
The brand’s connection to China is deeply rooted and not confined to this single event. Later this year, Chanel will further cement its presence by hosting a series of runway shows in the country. In November, the brand will revisit Hong Kong for its Cruise 2025 show, followed by a presentation of its next Métiers d’Art collection in Hangzhou in December.
From the humble beginnings of Gabrielle Chanel’s sailor-inspired blouse to the revolutionary little black dress, the beloved 2.55 handbag and the quintessential tweed suit, the exhibition, co-organised by the Palais Galliera, Paris Musées and Power Station of Art, paints a vivid picture of how Chanel altered not just the world of fashion, but also the way women saw themselves.
