Fashionable ladies of the lake

"Seeing Hangzhou embrace its heritage while remaining innovative reminded me of the importance of preserving artisan techniques. It's not just about looking back but about re-imagining these crafts for contemporary clients. The city's harmony between nature and urban life also inspired me to think more holistically about design — how clothing, like art, can transport and transform us."

Kocher's Chinese colleague Max Luo Zijun demonstrated the craftsmanship and showed his work in a jumpsuit. The 31-year-old Chengdu-born designer joined Lemarie in 2016 after he graduated from Central Saint Martins in London, engaging in Chanel's Metiers d'art collections.

"It's happy to join this collection for Hangzhou. It's easier when the inspiration comes from my home culture, blending with Chinese aesthetics," says Luo.

The choice of Hangzhou for the show was not only because of the coromandel of West Lake but also because the city is well-known for its silk.

Chanel regarded this precious fabric as a treasure. Over the past 80 years, raw materials to make silk fabrics for Chanel have almost all come from China.