Actress Tilda Swinton stars in a short film by Wim Wenders, inspired by the connection between Chanel’s founder and the famous West Lake in Hangzhou (Photo: Donata Wenders/Chanel)
It would seem that Hangzhou in 2024 continues to serve as a confluence of artistry, luxury, and creativity as the world casts its eyes on the Chinese city, where luxury maison Chanel held its Métiers d’Art show on Dec 3.
A special short film was commissioned for the occasion, directed by Ernest Wilhelm ‘Wim’ Wenders, an influential figure in New German cinema, and starring Tilda Swinton, Leah Dou, and Xin Zhilei.
The connection between Hangzhou and Chanel dates back to when the house’s founder, Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, discovered Chinese lacquer screens together with her great love, Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel. One particular scene in the film showcases the city’s beautiful West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011.
Hangzhou, besides inspiring poets and artists, has also long been a centre of artisanal craftsmanship and trade, renowned for silk, lacquerware, ceramics, and more. It seems perfectly fitting, then, that the 2024 Métiers d’Art collection was presented right in the city’s heart, by the waters of Xihu (West Lake), cementing Hangzhou’s eternal legacy as a place of inspiration, beauty and artistry.
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