01MATTHIEU BLAZY NOW RUNS CHANEL, AND HE BUILT HIS NAME MAKING
LEATHER LIE. AT BOTTEGA VENETA HE ENGINEERED HIDES TO LOOK EXACTLY
LIKE FADED DENIM, LIKE CRISP COTTON POPLIN, LIKE FUR. YOU HAD TO
TOUCH THE CLOTHES TO KNOW WHAT THEY REALLY WERE.
02THAT IS THE TRICK AND THE SKILL: TROMPE-L'OEIL, THE EYE FOOLED ON
PURPOSE. A BOTTEGA 'DENIM' SHIRT WAS NAPPA LEATHER, PRINTED AND
TREATED BY HAND UNTIL IT PASSED FOR WORKWEAR. CRAFT SO QUIET IT
HID ITSELF. NO LOGO NEEDED, THE TECHNIQUE WAS THE FLEX.
03NOW HE HAS INHERITED THE RICHEST CRAFT ARSENAL IN FASHION. CHANEL
OWNS ITS OWN EMBROIDERERS, FEATHER-MAKERS, PLEATERS AND
SHOEMAKERS, DECADES OF SPECIALIST HANDS KEPT ALIVE IN-HOUSE. A
MAN OBSESSED WITH MATERIAL, HANDED THE DEEPEST TOOLBOX THERE IS.
04THE CHAIR HE STEPPED INTO IS HEAVY. BLAZY SUCCEEDED VIRGINIE VIARD,
WHO FOLLOWED KARL LAGERFELD, WHO FOLLOWED GABRIELLE CHANEL
HERSELF. FEW SEATS IN FASHION COME WITH THAT MUCH HISTORY
STARING BACK AT WHOEVER SITS DOWN IN THEM.
05HIS DEBUT CHANEL SHOWED IN 2025 AS A WHOLE SOLAR SYSTEM, A REPLY
TO LAGERFELD'S OLD RUNWAY ROCKET; A COUTURE SHOW FOLLOWED IN
2026 AT THE GRAND PALAIS. THE MATERIAL TRICKERY IS STILL THERE, NOW
WORKING FOR THE TWEED INSTEAD OF AGAINST THE DENIM.
06THAT IS WHY THE MATCH FITS. A DESIGNER WHO TREATS MATERIAL AS
ILLUSION, HANDED THE HOUSE WITH THE DEEPEST REAL CRAFT ON EARTH.
CHANEL'S HANDS AND BLAZY'S EYE, AIMED AT SOMETHING THAT IS NEITHER
QUIET LUXURY NOR NOISE. SOMETHING THIS PAIRING WAS BUILT TO MAKE.