Chanel runway shows in Sydney

Chanel scheduled its first Australian runway show in Sydney to present its Cruise 2026/27 collection. The collection, which had previously debuted in Biarritz, France, features ocean and surf culture themes.

On November 5, the fashion house staged the presentation of the resort 2027 collection at The Cutaway in Barangaroo Reserve. The event included high-profile attendees such as Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman, Kylie Minogue, and Cathy Freeman. The presentation also incorporated local elements, including ceramic vessels by New South Wales artist Damion Fuller.

This presentation of Matthieu Blazy’s Cruise 2027 collection marked a milestone for the Australian fashion industry. Following the runway show, Kylie Minogue provided a musical performance. The event was noted for its inclusion of First Nations models, including Latahlia Hickling, Tatyana Perry, Tarlisa Gaykamangu, Charlee Fraser, and Cindy Rostron. Fashion critics described the presence of these models as a “decisive moment for Indigenous representation on the runway.” The set design utilized the venue’s natural sandstone to blend the maison’s Art Deco aesthetic with local sensibility.

Under the artistic direction of Matthieu Blazy, the collection aims to bridge the heritage of Gabrielle Chanel with modern mobility. The designs reinterpret classic house codes, such as the little black dress, nautical references, and the double C logo, using materials intended for contemporary life and movement. The Sydney presentation serves as a second chapter to the journey that began in Biarritz, a location significant to the brand as the site where Gabrielle Chanel established her first couture house outside of Paris.