Chanel’s artistic director, Virginie Viard, is stepping down from her role, the luxury brand announced on Thursday. This has sparked speculation about her successor in one of fashion’s most prominent positions.
“A new era is beginning for Chanel Mode,” the brand stated, confirming the anticipated change first reported by Business of Fashion.
The privately-owned label, renowned for its tweed suits, quilted handbags, and iconic No. 5 perfume, mentioned that details about a “new creative organization” will follow. Chanel thanked Viard for her “valuable collaboration over five years.”
Viard, 62, had a long tenure at Chanel spanning nearly three decades. He initially worked alongside Karl Lagerfeld and later assumed his role after his passing in 2019.
Her departure coincides with a period of industry adjustment amidst slower growth. Brands like Gucci, owned by Kering, are also seeking fresh creative direction to stimulate sales.
Following the post-COVID boom driven by pent-up fashion demand, consumer spending has tempered due to increased living costs.
Chanel ensured continuity in its collections with interim oversight from its teams. The brand plans to unveil its fall-winter haute couture show for 2024/2025 in Paris on June 25.
Chanel’s CEO, Leena Nair, recently downplayed rumors of a designer change, highlighting Viard’s role in significantly boosting ready-to-wear fashion sales, which have doubled since 2018.
Chanel, owned by French billionaires Alain Wertheimer and Gerard Wertheimer, is the world’s second-largest luxury label after Louis Vuitton, which is under LVMH ownership.
K-pop girl group NewJeans becomes South Korea’s honorary tourism ambassador.
Dubai: K-pop girl group NewJeans is poised to become the fresh face of Korean tourism.
Today, the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) announced the band members’ appointment as honorary ambassadors for Korean tourism.
“We are thrilled to be chosen as ambassadors to promote South Korean tourism,” remarked band member Minji, expressing excitement at the opportunity for the supergroup to showcase their country’s attractions.
The five-member group was featured in two videos on the KTO’s official YouTube channel, Imagine Your Korea. These videos highlight Korean cuisine and cultural experiences cherished by locals.
In the commercials, band members share personal recommendations for visitors, such as enjoying gimbap with tteokbokki sauce and participating in the “one photo a day” tradition popular among young Koreans.
Haerin suggested exploring a hanbok, a traditional Korean house, while Hanni encouraged visitors to indulge in Korean culinary delights.
“When you visit Korea, you must try Korean food. Since it’s summer and the weather is hot, dishes like samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) or mul-naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) are delightful,” she recommended.
According to an article on the Korean news website Korea times.co.kr, the videos featuring NewJeans will be displayed on electric signboards at 14 major cities’ tourism landmarks across 12 countries, including New York’s Times Square, Tokyo, and Beijing, until October. Short-form versions of these videos will also be shown on digital screens throughout Paris during the Summer Olympics.
In previous years, the ministry appointed well-known celebrities,, such as ‘Squid Game actor and Emmy-winner Lee Jung-Jae in 2023 and BTS in 2022 as honorary ambassadors for Korean tourism.
“The ministry hopes that NewJeans’ advertisements will inspire young people worldwide to experience Korean tourism in a sophisticated manner and encourage them to visit and discover the real Korea,” stated Culture Minister Yoo In-chon.
According to a report by the news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP), South Korea’s tourism numbers have rebounded to nearly pre-pandemic levels this year, with about a third of visitors citing K-pop or K-drama—commonly known as the ‘Hallyu’ or Korean wave—as a significant reason for traveling to East Asia.
“The number of tourists has reached about 90% of pre-pandemic levels. With NewJeans as tourism ambassadors, we anticipate even more visitors from around the globe coming to Korea,” added the minister.
The group will serve as ambassadors without formal diplomatic responsibilities for a year.
According to the ministry’s survey, 35.6% of inbound visitors were under 30 years old last year, and 84% were independent travelers.
Last year, over 11 million tourists visited South Korea, marking a 245% increase compared to 2022, when some pandemic restrictions were still in effect. The majority of visitors were from China and Japan.
The group stated during their appointment ceremony in Seoul, “We are committed to promoting Korean culture and tourism globally.”
The group, which consists of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, is managed by the South Korean agency Ador and label Hybe.
They debuted with their single ‘Attention’ on July 22, 2022, followed by their debut extended play, ‘New Jeans,’ released on August 1, 2022.
The group recently held their first fan meet at Tokyo Dome, achieving the fastest debut for any foreign artist at the venue, with tickets selling out within minutes.
Their Japanese debut single ‘Supernatural’ has sold over a million copies as of Thursday, marking their fifth million-selling release.
BTS K-pop idol Jin has been selected as the Olympic torchbearer for South Korea at the Paris 2024 games.
K-pop idol Jin, the eldest member of the South Korean supergroup BTS, has been chosen to carry the torch in the Paris 2024 Olympic torch relay.
“Jin will join the Olympic Torch Relay to promote the messages of ‘harmony’ and ‘peace,'” announced Hybe, his talent agency, on Wednesday, June 3.
Hybe stated, “Jin, along with other torchbearers, will traverse through various historic sites in the host country.” The 31-year-old singer recently completed his mandatory 18-month military service in June.
While the other six BTS members—Jungkook, V (Tehyung), Jimin, Suga, RM, and J-Hope—are currently fulfilling their military duties, the group is anticipated to reunite next year.
In a recent Instagram post upon his return, Jin was seen wearing a black long-sleeve t-shirt featuring Jungkook’s image from BTS’s ‘Golden’ merchandise collection, which he discovered at the company’s building. During a recent fan meet, emotional fans embraced him warmly.
To celebrate, BTS fans propelled one of Jin’s solo tracks from 2021 back to the top of the US US charts.
According to a recent article on forbes.com, Jin’s song ‘Super Tuna’ has reclaimed the number one spot on the Billboard chart’s World Digital Song Sales list.
Jin and the other torchbearers will journey across various historic sites in the host country, with the specific schedule yet to be announced.
The Olympic Torch relay
The Olympic flame is ignited at Olympia, Greece, the ancient birthplace of the Olympics, several months ahead of the Olympic Games. This event marks the beginning of the Olympic Torch Relay, culminating with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the Games’ opening ceremony. Throughout the Games, the flame continues to burn in the cauldron until it is extinguished during the closing ceremony.
For the Paris Games this year, the flame was lit in April and has been relayed since then. It arrived in France on May 8 and is anticipated to pass through the hands of approximately 10,000 torchbearers before reaching the Olympic cauldron in Paris on July 26.
Over the years, the Olympic flame has traversed adventurous paths around the globe. It has journeyed into space, reached the summit of Mount Everest, and even been carried underwater in Lake Baikal—recognized as the world’s deepest lake—as part of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay.
Additionally, the flame will illuminate the Paralympic Games, which are scheduled from August 28 to September 8. In this phase, 1,000 torchbearers will relay the flame across 50 towns and cities in France.
Netflix to open immersive entertainment complexes in the US
Netflix announced plans on Tuesday to launch expansive entertainment venues across American cities, where fans can fully immerse themselves in their favorite shows, featuring themed restaurants and gift shops.
Dubbed “Netflix Houses,” these experiential venues will repurpose vacant retail spaces within shopping malls. The first two locations, in Dallas, Texas, and a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are slated to debut in 2025.
“At Netflix House, visitors can enjoy regularly updated immersive experiences, engage in retail therapy, and savor unique food and drink offerings inspired by their beloved Netflix series and films,” stated Marian Lee, Netflix’s chief marketing officer.
While Netflix has previously opened over 50 pop-up spaces in 25 cities to showcase popular titles like “Squid Game,” these new venues will be permanent, with plans for further expansion.
The initiative comes amid shifts in consumer behavior and the growing dominance of online commerce, which have prompted several US department store chains, including Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, and Barneys New York, to adapt through closures or bankruptcy filings in recent years.
Video: Jin, the oldest member of K-pop’s BTS, finishes army service in South Korea
In Seoul, Jin, the eldest member of the K-pop sensation BTS, completed his 18-month mandatory military service on Wednesday, becoming the first member of the group to fulfill this national duty that paused their music careers.
Clad in uniform and a black beret, the 31-year-old Jin was visibly emotional as he embraced colleagues at a military base in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province, as seen in television footage.
“I cried during the ceremony,” Jin shared later in a livestream on the Weverse fandom platform, which garnered over 3 million views. “But the past year and a half has been so enjoyable. I’m incredibly relieved to have met so many wonderful people,” he added, expressing gratitude to his military base comrades.
Following Jin’s discharge, shares of HYBE, the label that manages BTS, rose by 1.01% in early trading, while South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index increased by 0.35%.
South Korean media reported that several other members of the group, who were currently fulfilling their military service, had applied for leave to commemorate the occasion.
Among those celebrating was rapper RM, who greeted Jin with a saxophone rendition of the group’s hit single “Dynamite.”
Jin became the first member of BTS to begin his military service in December 2022. The remaining four members commenced their service in December 2023, and the band is planned to reunite in 2025 after they have completed their duties.
Jin intends to mark his discharge with an event in Seoul on Thursday, where he will meet fans and perform. BTS debuted on June 13, 2013, and has since become synonymous with K-pop, one of South Korea’s foremost cultural exports.
South Korea mandates that all non-disabled men aged 18 to 28 serve between 18 to 21 months in the military or social service. In 2020, the law was amended to allow globally recognized K-pop stars to postpone enlistment until 30.
Frequently Asked Question
Why is Virginie Viard leaving Chanel?
Virginie Viard is leaving Chanel to pursue other opportunities. Chanel or Viard herself haslicly dispublicly stated the exact reasons for her departure.
Who will replace Virginie Viard as Chanel’s creative director?
Chanel has not announced a replacement for Virginie Viard yet. Selecting a new creative director typically involves careful consideration and may take some time.
How long was Virginie Viard, creative director at Chanel?
Virginie Viard became the creative director of Chanel in 2019, following the passing of Karl Lagerfeld, whom she had worked alongside for nearly three decades.
What are Virginie Viard’s contributions to Chanel?
As creative director, Virginie Viard continued Chanel’s haute couture and ready-to-wear collections legacy. She maintained the brand’s iconic aesthetic while introducing her interpretations and innovations.
What is the impact of Virginie Viard’s departure on Chanel?
Virginie Viard’s departure marks a significant change for Chanel, as she played a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s collections and creative direction in recent years. Chanel will now transition to a new creative leadership under different guidance.
When will Virginie Viard officially leave Chanel?
Chanel has confirmed Virginie Viard’s departure, but the exact date of her official exit has not been specified. Typically, such transitions are carefully managed to ensure continuity in creative operations.
What’s next for Virginie Viard after leaving Chanel?
Virginie Viard’s plans after leaving Chanel have not been publicly announced. She may pursue new opportunities within the fashion industry or beyond based on her expertise and experience.
Conclusion
Virginie Viard’s departure from Chanel marks the end of an era defined by her significant contributions to the iconic fashion house. As creative director, Viard upheld Chanel’s legacy while infusing her vision into its collections, following in the footsteps of the legendary Karl Lagerfeld. Her exit opens a new chapter for Chanel, prompting anticipation for who will assume the role and steer the brand’s creative direction next. Viard’s legacy at Chanel will be remembered for her innovative designs, dedication to craftsmanship, and role in shaping the brand’s identity during her tenure.
