Chanel is transporting the heart of its Parisian ateliers to Shanghai this autumn. 'La Galerie du 19M,' the cultural program of its artisan hub, will occupy the Museum of Art Pudong from September 25 to November 15. The exhibition promises an immersive dialogue between French savoir-faire and Chinese craftsmanship, curated by a cross-cultural team including artist Lin Tianmiao and designer Zhang Lei.
For The Lingerie Museum, this move underscores a perennial truth in fashion: foundational support crafts shape everything from couture gowns to intimate apparel. A central retrospective will honor the Lesage embroidery house, founded in 1924. The atelier's relationship with lingerie is intimate; its delicate tambour beading and gossamer-thread work have historically adorned not just evening jackets but also the most luxurious foundations, setting a standard for ornamentation that influenced lingerie designers for decades.
The exhibition also features Lemarié, the feather specialist, and Atelier Lognon, master of pleating. These métiers have direct lineage to lingerie history. Lemarié’s exquisite marabou and ostrich plumes have graced negligees and boudoir caps since the early 20th century, while precise pleating techniques find echoes in the structured cups of silk satin bras. By showcasing these skills, Chanel continues a mission begun in the 1980s: to protect the manual expertise that gives tangible value to luxury, whether seen on the runway or against the skin. This Shanghai chapter is less a simple cultural exchange and more an argument for the enduring relevance of the human hand in an automated age.
Originally reported by WWD