Chanel’s new book focuses on the making of Karl Lagerfeld’s last collections

There have been many books that share the fascinating tales of the house of Chanel, but ‘Chanel: The Making of a Collection‘, which came out two days ago, gives us something else – an unprecedented look behind the closed doors of Chanel, as we journey through the meticulous processes that helped bring Lagerfeld’s designs to life.

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Written by journalist Laetitia Cénac and illustrated by painter Jean-Phillips Delhomme, the book guides us through the making of the fashion extraordinaire’s Métiers d’Art 2018 collection, as well as the Spring 2019 collection he co-created with his longstanding right-hand woman and successor Virginie Viard.

“My latest collection has a connection to childhood,” says Lagerfeld in a one-on-one interview in the book. The book goes on to present, in a reverse chronological order, the detailed preparations, key contributors, and know-hows that go into each collection. Whether it’s the secret of casting a Chanel model, the fastidious techniques and specific specs that go into crafting a Chanel jacket, the roles of the studio’s key members, or the master artisans at the house’s various off-site ateliers, this book has it all, and it’s a must-read for fans of both the house of Chanel and the legendary Karl Lagerfeld.

This article by Cindie Chan first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong.