Key facts
- Chanel has acquired full ownership of Charvet, a Parisian shirtmaker founded in 1838.
- The acquisition aims to secure the long-term continuity of Charvet's craftsmanship and specialized staff.
- Chanel also acquired Charvet's building on Place Vendôme in Paris.
- The deal was announced ahead of Matthieu Blazy's second haute couture collection for Chanel.
- Charvet has a history of dressing notable figures including Marcel Proust and John F. Kennedy.
Chanel has acquired full ownership of Charvet, the historic Parisian shirtmaker founded in 1838, solidifying a relationship that dates back to Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel. The deal aims to secure the long-term continuity of Charvet's unique savoir-faire and specialized staff, particularly as its current owners, siblings Anne-Marie and Jean-Claude Colban, are in their 70s.
Chanel's artistic director, Matthieu Blazy, rekindled the historic bond by featuring Charvet-made shirts in his debut collection for Chanel last October. These shirts, distinguished by a signature Chanel chain at the hem, became notable pieces worn by celebrities. Bruno Pavlovsky, president of fashion at Chanel SAS, stated that the acquisition was a natural progression, noting that while Chanel primarily targets women, it has a growing male clientele, and Charvet, primarily for men, is attracting more women.
The acquisition also includes Charvet's six-floor building on Place Vendôme, further enhancing Chanel's presence in the historic Parisian square. Charvet, known for its made-to-measure tailoring, employs approximately 40 people at its store and 60 at its production workshop. The Colban siblings expressed delight in this new chapter, emphasizing shared values of craftsmanship and quality.
Charvet, France's oldest shirtmaker, has a storied past, having dressed luminaries such as Marcel Proust, Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, and Karl Lagerfeld. The company was bought by Denis Colban, Charvet's main fabric supplier, in 1965 to prevent a foreign sale, and has since been run by his children.