Manchester’s Northern Quarter is getting ready to host Chanel’s ‘top secret’ fashion show

When Chanel announced that it would host one of its most prestigious fashion shows in Manchester, speculation as to the exact location began instantly.

There were some pretty obvious options – Aviva Studios (formerly known as Factory International) was one. Depot Mayfield was another. Many floated the idea of it happening up on Castlefield Viaduct, or in one of our many museums or libraries.

What no one expected though, was that the world’s most luxurious fashion house would opt for the city’s Northern Quarter.

Not even inside a building in the Northern Quarter, either – slap bang in the middle of Thomas Street.

Over the last week, an enormous structure has been under construction that will provide a transparent temporary shelter from the elements.

Thomas Street will be closed for an entire month for the event and the construction around it, with the show itself taking place on 7 December.

The street will be the home of this year’s Chanel Métiers D’Art fashion show, which has previously taken place in settings like a pontoon moored in Shanghai’s Huangpu river and a lavish banquet setting in a Parisian palace.

Chanel always chooses cities that are linked to its history, then themes the show around that, so Manchester’s cotton trade history is likely to feature heavily.

So the formerly industrial Northern Quarter does make sense – just no one expected the most elite names in fashion to be traipsing in past Trof and the Sanae Thai Massage parlour. I wonder what Anna Wintour will make of Rambo’s Tattoo Parlour?

Historical, yes, but also, a little hilarious to those of us who spend our Friday nights staggering around that bit of town.

The MEN has also reported that a high-profile hotel has signed an NDA and prepared some serious security measures ahead of the arrival of Chanel’s famous invitees.

Although the businesses along Thomas Street aren’t able to comment on the Chanel show in Manchester, ‘Metiers D’Art’ can be seen labelling boxes along the road now.

And the workers on site are pretty eager to share their project with everyone walking past too…

The Chanel Métiers D’Art 2023/2024 show is set to take place in Manchester on 7 December.

We’ll be waiting with baited breath for a glimpse of Jennifer Lawrence in Terrace, Timothee Chalamet grabbing lunch at This n That, or Kim Kardashian doing sambuca shots in Cane & Grain.

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Featured image: The Manc Group