I remember one of the first trips I took with my family as a child was to Singapore. I still remember the weather, the pristine streets, the warm disposition of the locals, and how incredibly happy I was to experience a culture so different from my own. It sparked a lifelong curiosity and interest in exploring the unknown.
What I learned from traveling a lot as an adult is that people have a lot of preconceptions and opinions about where you should and shouldn't go. But what is a desirable destination? Who gets to make that decision? In my experience, some of the best travel experiences take place in destinations that provoke extreme reactions, good, bad, or somewhere in between.
The places that fascinate me the most are not completely shell-covered. They're unassuming and not always discreet, but they usually form an impressive community of artists and creators who seek inspiration and material for their work.
In recent years, fashion houses have reinvigorated their approach to destination shows, moving away from the usual suspects in favor of growing cultural hubs like Mexico City and Dakar.
This December, I was invited to Chanel's Métiers d'Art show in Manchester, the city that gave birth to some of the seminal musical acts I listen to every day: The Stone Roses, Oasis, The Durutti Column. What I liked about this choice was that it wasn't completely self-evident or something people would immediately understand. Manchester, despite its deep creative roots, is not the kind of global city that the general tourist crowds into. That makes Manchester a fascinating place to unravel, in my book.
For this issue, we were lucky enough to return to Manchester to photograph the collection in the city that inspired us. Apart from listening to a carefully selected Manchester playlist to help you focus, when conceptualizing the story we wanted to prioritize locations that are an important part of Manchester's rich cultural history. Naturally, we chose Victoria Baths, a former municipal swimming pool, as our first location, followed by the local bar where The Smiths famously immortalized themselves on the sleeves of The Queen. of Salford Lads and Girls Club, a community recreation club focused on mentoring young people. It's a dead album. Against this backdrop of his two locations, the textures and bright colors of the collection, including tweed, Shetland and cashmere, came to life. While inherently French, the collection blended seamlessly with Manchester's architecture and romantic cloudy skies.
As the summer season begins and travel becomes top of mind, we hope the following pages will pique your interest in discovering out-of-reach and unfamiliar places.
