Chanel fashion show in Manchester brought a staggering £8m boost to the city

The total value of the massive Chanel fashion show in Manchester has been revealed, along with that the amount it cost in public money.

Early analysis of the global event, which saw Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter shut down and turned into a runway, suggests it generated a whopping £8m impact for the local economy.

And it’s estimated that the value it’s had for the city overall through national and international media coverage will be worth at least £100m.

Chanel’s Metiers d’Art fashion show was held earlier this month and had the city in a flurry of excitement, with celebrities spotted including Hugh Grant, Tilda Swinton and Kristen Stewart.

They, along with names like Aitch, Bugzy Malone and Alexa Chung, were seen leaving fancy hotels and partying at venues like Salford Lad’s Club and Victoria Baths.

And now Marketing Manchester has valued the direct impact of the 600 Chanel guests and staff for the show to be worth £8m in direct income.

That includes staying in hotels for three to four days, spending in the local economy while they were here, and other expenditure like venue hire.

The Chanel show in Manchester is expected to attract even more investment, jobs and opportunities for Mancs too.

A main criticism of the show was how much it was costing the city to shut down one of its busiest streets for the week – the answer is nothing at all.

The council has confirmed that Chanel met all the associated costs, including cleaning, road closures, and recompensing the businesses affected by the event, with no cost to Manchester’s public purse.

See more

In addition to that, 50 fashion students from Manchester Metropolitan University were invited to work backstage at the Chanel show, dressing models and supporting rehearsals.

Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: “The Chanel event is one of the highlights in the global fashion calendar and the choice of Manchester as the host city received international acclaim.

“But for us it was never about the glitz and glamour – events such as this help cement Manchester’s reputation on a global stage and come with both direct benefits, through the money spent within our economy while they are here but also indirect benefits by showcasing the city and helping to capture investment, jobs, visitors and attention, all of which open up opportunities for Manchester residents and communities.”

Victoria Braddock, Managing Director of Marketing Manchester, said: “The scale of the impact of the Chanel Métiers d’art show in Manchester will be felt for years to come.

“The global media coverage of the event has put a spotlight on Manchester and its rich heritage in textiles and home of iconic music, which will drive conversations about the city and bring new visitors.

“The £8m economic impact is a welcome boost across accommodation, restaurants, and attractions, and demonstrates the importance of global events in the city.”

Read more

• Watch – Chanel shares incredible video of Manchester’s Northern Quarter transformed into catwalk
• MasterChef champion Simon Wood sparks fierce debate after exposing customer who asked for freebies
• The ultimate booze tour around the bars of the Manchester Christmas Markets

Featured image: Supplied