The moment the doors opened, my eyes were drawn to the embroidery experience table placed at the center of the spacious venue, and to the poised figures of the staff standing in front of each exhibition booth.
There was a quiet dignity in their presence—something that felt unmistakably like the spirit of CHANEL. Their composed movements and refined demeanor captivated me in an instant.
Throughout the space flowed a serene stillness, dignified and calm—yet deep inside, a childlike sense of anticipation quietly began to swell.
It was a powerful beginning, filled with the sense that I was about to step into the world of craftsmanship that CHANEL holds so dear.
The staff’s attire was subtle, yet undeniably refined. With each booth I visited, observing their style became part of the pleasure.
They all wore a shared base of black trousers and black tops, but added their own quiet flair—some with a tweed jacket, others with a short-sleeved leather piece, or a velour jacket that hinted at floral patterns. Each ensemble stood out softly, never shouting for attention.
Pearl necklaces and brooches shimmered elegantly, and among them was one striking figure layered in strings of pearls—evoking the spirit of Karl Lagerfeld’s era.
Within the limited palette of items, their individuality and quiet sophistication left a lasting impression.
The guests, too, were captivating in their styling.
One woman paired a vivid red tweed jacket with a breezy black tulle skirt. Another draped a sequined black jacket over her shoulders, combining it effortlessly with tailored black trousers.
Each outfit was far from excessive, yet full of personal expression—confident and composed.
There were so many moments when I felt the urge to walk over and say, “You look wonderful.” It was that kind of atmosphere—gently inspiring, and deeply resonant.
The first look presented in the exhibition featured embroidery and tweed crafted by Lesage.
Lesage is one of France’s most renowned ateliers specializing in haute couture embroidery. Since 2002, it has been part of CHANEL’s Métiers d’Art—a collective of artisan workshops that uphold the house’s exceptional craftsmanship.
From intricate beadwork and three-dimensional motifs to the interplay of diverse materials, the artistry of Lesage transcends mere embellishment. Each creation possesses a depth and richness akin to fine art.
For CHANEL, Lesage is more than a heritage atelier—it is a creative partner that carries traditional savoir-faire into the future. It stands as a symbol of the Métiers d’Art spirit itself.
One of the most striking displays was a miniature loom that recreated the intricate process behind Lesage’s exceptional tweed production—a tribute to the embroidery atelier that supports CHANEL’s Métiers d’Art.
It felt as though threads, fabric, and time itself were woven together in quiet harmony.
Among all the pieces on display, one look in shades of blue captivated me deeply.
The crystalline blues and turquoise hues shimmered like jewels. Their interplay evoked a poetic landscape—like the place where water meets sky.
For this look, Lesage employed an astonishing 22 different types of thread. The intricately woven ribbon tweed caught the light and shifted with every angle, radiating a fresh, modern energy.
It was paired—surprisingly yet seamlessly—with fluid silk jacquard trousers in a flowing blue-green.
Tweed, with its traditional tailoring, is a structured fabric that shapes the silhouette with precision.
In contrast, jacquard brings softness, movement, and a luminous sheen—adding a modern edge.
These two contrasting elements came together in perfect harmony, quietly expressing the kind of elegance that is quintessentially CHANEL.
When we think of tweed suits, many of us may picture something traditionally classic.
But this look gently subverted that expectation.
It seemed to whisper a quiet message:
“Elegance is not fixed—it lives in the delicate balance that is always in motion.”
After seeing that look, I found myself thinking of the CHANEL tweed jacket I have in my own wardrobe—
a piece I still wear regularly in my everyday life.
Even without a special occasion, I sometimes slip it on in the morning, simply depending on how I feel.
Who will I meet today?
Where will I go?
What kind of version of myself do I want to embody?
I think through these little things as I decide how to style it.
With denim, or with shorts.
Dressed up, or dressed down.
A CHANEL jacket moves fluidly between worlds—elegant and casual, structured yet free—
and in doing so, it becomes a natural part of daily life.
Among them, the tweed jacket crafted by Lesage holds a special place.
The density of the handwork, its beauty, and the depth of the story it carries—
Every time I drape it over my shoulders, I feel the quiet weight of what CHANEL conveys through the hands of its artisans.
CHANEL is not meant to be preserved in a glass case; it’s meant to be lived in.
Tweed is a fabric that grows with its wearer,
softly entwining itself with your days and becoming richer with memory.
It’s not the special day that makes it special—
It’s wearing the piece that turns an ordinary day into something quietly extraordinary.
CHANEL tweed carries not only the memory of the artisan’s hand.
It weaves in the life of the person who chooses to wear it.
And that’s why I know I’ll reach for that jacket again.
Because no matter what the day holds, there will always be a reason to wear it.
I hope this piece has left behind a small trace of something—a quiet afterglow, perhaps.
Thank you for reading to the very end.
For more on the story behind this collection and the craftsmanship that shapes it,
You can read more about it in this article.
To explore the artistry of CHANEL’s craftsmen—their hands at work—and a closer look at the restaurant inside CHANEL’s Ginza boutique,
You can read more about it in this article.
An exhibition celebrating the beauty of the Métiers d’Art is also scheduled to take place in Tokyo in the fall of 2025. la Galerie du 19M Tokyo
