Francis Bacon once postulated that “fashion is the attempt to realise art in living forms and social intercourse,” and nowhere is this more evident than at the house of Lesage, the French embroidery and weaving specialist who celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. For the past century, the legendary atelier has steadily worked its way in the rarefied world of haute couture, collaborating with the biggest names in fashion—Chanel, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent and more—to create some of the most spectacular pieces that elevate fashion into art.
Lesage, 100 years of Fashion and Decoration, a new exhibition at Le19M, Chanel’s Parisian hub for its métiers d’art, pays tribute to the richly embroidered history of Lesage, drawing on the atelier’s extensive archive to tell its story. From collaborative sketches, to models of potential embroidery patterns, tweed samples, embroidery samples, archival pieces drawn from fashion houses, celebrities’ wardrobes and artworks created in partnership with Lesage, the exhibition provides a concise snapshot of the atelier’s past, present and future.
Among some of the most memorable parts of the exhibition include an immersive installation that employs AI to breathe new life into their archive and transform several iconic embroidery samples into surreal landscapes; viewing the intricate embroidery work of Lesage’s ateliers up close (one stunner was a heavily sequined panel inspired by Van Gogh’s Irises); and the gallery of Lesage’s works for notable fashion houses and celebrities (among the pieces on display here are American pop star Beyonce’s silver tinsel outfit from her Renaissance world tour and two incredible coats inspired by coromandel screens from Chanel’s legendary Fall/Winter 1996 haute couture collection). An unmissable exhibition for fashion fanatics and casual observers alike.
Lesage, 100 years of Fashion and Decoration
La Galerie du 19M
2 place Skanderbeg
75019 Paris
Until 5 January 2025