Paris (AFP)

Reflected in mirrors, golden ears and camellias: Chanel celebrated Wednesday evening the crafts in Paris during an intimate parade in a setting designed by Sofia Coppola and reproducing the apartment of Coco Chanel.

The supermodels Gigi Hadid and Kaia Gerber wore "treasures" clothes designed by artistic director Virginie Viard for this traditional parade since 2002 highlighting the unique skills of embroiderers, plumassiers, parures, glove makers and other crafts .

After Hamburg and New York, the Parade of Crafts took place this year in Paris, at the Grand Palais, where the house presents its haute couture and ready-to-wear collections. It was advanced a day because of the massive strike Thursday in France against the pension reform.

Spanish actresses Penelope Cruz and French Carole Bouquet were among the guests.

Called "31 rue Cambon", address Chanel historic lounges and studios at the staircase faceted mirrors cubist, this collection is inspired by the apartment Gabrielle Chanel, called "Mademoiselle", "a warm place" dear to Virginie Viard and filled with talismans such as the ear of wheat painted by Dali which will be declined in sequin embroidery.

The decor of the parade was designed by American filmmaker Sofia Coppola, longtime friend of the house.

"Virginie and I talked about the codes of the house, many of which come from Gabrielle Chanel's apartment, how to integrate these codes into the decor," she says according to the notes of intent of the parade.

- "Child of Karl and Gabrielle" -

This apartment on the second floor, between the lounges and the creative studio is full of codes like the double C intertwined in a chandelier or camellias, graphic flower emblem of Coco Chanel, long worn by the "casseroles" and the dandies of the 19th century that Chanel has imposed in the wardrobe of women of the world.

Italian Vittoria Ceretti wearing a camellia jacket embroidered with rhinestones and black skirt also decorated with this flower has closed the parade during which were unveiled other great classics revisited as chains, knots, two-tone suits or black dresses belt golden.

Chanel codes, I completely absorbed them I saw so much Karl + + twister + I grew up here I am a child of Karl and Gabrielle, says Virginie Viard, the ex-right arm of Karl Lagerfeld who succeeded him after his death in February 2019.

On Instagram, Chanel unveiled the preparation of the appointment with images of Virginie Viard at work in the workshops of embroiderers Lesage and Montex or at the plumassier and florist Lemarié.

"I want it to be a treasure to wear Chanel clothing," she says in one of these videos. "We put rhinestones everywhere, it's still brighter," adds another video Christelle Kocher, artistic director of Lemarié making a white jacket in camellias.

Since 1985, Chanel has acquired more than thirty fashion houses and factories employing some 5,000 employees, serving its own creation but also working for other luxury houses.

The house is building a new arts and crafts site at the Aubervilliers gateway, in a popular district in the north of Paris, which will be inaugurated in the fall of 2020 and will bring together 600 people in modern and bright workshops.

The building of 25,500 m3, designed by the architect Rudy Ricciotti, author among others MuCEM in Marseille and the Department of Islamic Arts at the Louvre Museum, will host eleven houses.

© 2019 AFP