Chanel Métiers D’Art as a Love Letter to Tokyo by Mati Diop

On June 1 in Tokyo, Chanel Creative Director Virgine Viard presented the second iteration of a dazzling show for the 2022/23 Métiers d’art collection, first unveiled in Dakar in December of last year. Rejoicing in the maison’s spirited bond with the enchanting city of Tokyo, the special occasion was attended by ardent friends, ambassadors, and collaborators such as Kristen Stewart, Nana Komatsu, and Caroline de Maigret. The unforgettable presentation featured cutting-edge performances by Dimitri Chamblas’s dance collective, as well as musical artists NIX and Ichika Nito. Invited by Chanel to develop a short cinematic adaptation of the collection, acclaimed film director Mati Diop created “Tokyo Trip,” a dreamlike adventure starring magnetic model and actress Mama Sané.

Alongside the Maisons D’Art of CHANEL—a collective which includes hundreds of expert artisans such as feather workers, flower makers, embroiderers, and shoemakers—Viard enveloped the Tokyo audience in a true celebration of the modern day CHANEL mademoiselle. Projecting the warm vitality of the 1970s, the collection was aglow with multi-colored tweeds, geometric embroideries, and bejeweled accessories. Meticulous attention to detail, structure, and tailoring stood out in every chic ensemble; wool fuschia trousers were paired with a shimmering, embroidered burgundy pullover sweater, and topped off with turquoise beaded necklaces; a silk muslin floral blouse gave way to layers of embellished gold chain belts; and the top of a sleeveless heart-adorned wool dress culminated in an ornate tweed skirt, worn dynamically over blue and white denim jeans printed with the iconic CHANEL logo.

For the collaboration, Diop drew from admiration of her siblings, who are Japanese on their mother’s side, as well as favorite, time-honored films which depict the spellbinding heart of the city, such as Tokyo-Ga by Wim Wenders and Lost in Translation by Sofia Coppola. The artist joyfully reunited with her muse Sané, whom she discovered in Dakar in 2018 while casting for her groundbreaking film Atlantics—which would go on to win the exemplary Grand Prix award at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Sané majestically opened both the CHANEL Métiers d’art show in Dakar as well as in Tokyo, making her a supreme protagonist for Diop’s project. The result is an ethereal pilgrimage as the statuesque Sané moves through the iconic urban setting, interacting with new people, architecture, colors, and sensations.

An intimate focus is placed on the main character, her moods, movements, and vibrant inner life, the way in which she encounters fresh faces and awe-inspiring sights, as well as their reactions to her glamorous presence. Dressed in a breathtaking Chanel tweed suit of the new collection, enveloped by soft threads of turquoise, green, orange, and yellow, and donning an equally elegant pixie haircut in a celestial shade of blue-gray, Sané radiates in the city. What transpires is a treasured, rainy day symphony in moody blues, enlivened by glistening office buildings, tender phone conversations, a meditative swim, rhythmic train rides, and smiling, curious passerby—a serene and charismatic voyage emblematic of the contemporary Chanel heroine.