Chanel and cinema represent a devoted and lasting love story. From the beginning of her career, Gabrielle Chanel established an indissoluble bond with this art form, which emerged around the same period. Close to her fashion vocabulary and synonymous with modernity, cinema, more than any other art form, evoked energy, movement, audacity, dreams. In 1931, the couturière traveled to Hollywood at the invitation of American producer Samuel Goldwyn to dress Gloria Swanson and other actresses. She quickly understood how fashion could use cinema to reach women around the world. A friend and patron of great directors such as Jean Cocteau, Luchino Visconti, Louis Malle, and Alain Resnais, she dressed actresses like Romy Schneider, Jeanne Moreau, and Delphine Seyrig, both on-screen and off.
It was in 1920 when Gabrielle Chanel first discovered Venice, accompanied by her close friends, the artist couple José-Maria and Misia Sert: the city had such a profound effect on the designer that it became one of her greatest sources of inspiration. Continuing the support for cinematic creation that Gabrielle Chanel began in the 20th century, the Maison is present at this international event every year, accompanying its ambassadors and friends on the red carpet throughout the festival. This year, it supported the premiere of the short film Allégorie Citadine, a story written and directed by Alice Rohrwacher and JR, inspired by Plato’s cave myth and incorporating elements from the Chiroptera show—presented by JR last fall on the façade of the Palais Garnier in Paris. Chanel supported the creation of the film, which added a cinematic dimension to the event, involving the expertise of the Opéra teams in Paris, as well as the Métiers d’art at 19M and Chanel, the Grand Patron of the Opéra in Paris. Under the influence of Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard, the Maison has taken this commitment to the seventh art even further, dedicating itself to the artists with whom it works, supporting them throughout their careers, and cultivating important relationships with actors and directors, from great names in international cinema to the new generation. With the utmost respect for each artist’s practice, Chanel never interferes with the freedom and uniqueness of every project and its directors, whether it involves costume creation, production support, or film launch assistance. This longstanding commitment takes many forms, from supporting festivals, institutions, and emblematic ceremonies, to restoring masterpieces to ensure that the history of cinema is preserved.
Sigourney Weaver on the occasion of receiving the Golden Lion for
Lifetime Achievement.
