Chanel’s New Campaign Features Indeterminate India
View Slideshow June’s fashion magazines are full of Chanel’s fall ad campaign, featuring clothes from the “Paris-Bombay” show last year, where Karl Lagerfeld essentially imposed his idea of what he surmised Bombay might be about (i.e. a fairy land pulled entirely from Rajasthan circa the 1800s). Nevertheless, while the runway show, with its toy trains and mang tikkas, was so decadently removed from reality as to be a lark really, the print ads, featuring white models doing their take on Indian classical dance poses, are comically off point. There’s the fact that the models are in some stodgy, vaguely colonial-looking bar (there’s a teapot in the background because that’s what us natives like to drink); and that the stylist—that would be former French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld—probably after realising that Lagerfeld had never stepped foot on Mumbai’s muggy shores, decided to pass off dreadlocks, some nose jewellery and mudras as her take on the Indian version of a Rastafarian. What do you think? Click on the slideshow to see images from the campaign.
Tags: Bombay, Chanel, Fashion, Karl LagerfeldComments (7)
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I think its a beautiful collection. its luxurious and very wearable. the jewellery is edgy and modern. it’s a wonderful modernisation of the stereotypical indian fantasy. just because it’s inspired by india doesnt mean that it was chanel’s or karl’s intention to produce a collection that describes india to the T. Karl lagerfeld is an artist, and that’s what creativity and imagination is all about. if it stuck to the real india, they would just be giving us what we already have seen, and well why would he want to do that when we have a country full of talented indian designers? one of my favourite collections in a long time.
I don’t think Karl Lagerfeld, or anyone in the Western world, actually realizes how different Bombay really is from the rest of India. I suppose that they assume Bombay is like the India that has been shown to them in pictures, Bollywood movies and travel agencies. Very traditional, very tea-loving.
Also, the Indian-inspired jewellery and the teapot might just be the only things that their consumers are looking for to characterize this ad campaign as Bombay. Chanel has always been about “less is more” and minimalistic approaches, which can once again be seen in their 2012 pre-fall campaign. And I agree with Reshma that the white tweed jacket (and all other Chanel designs) is brilliant and makes up for any flaws in Karl’s representation of Mumbai.
Just another example of India being completely misunderstood. But honestly…teapot aside (Which by the way looks like any bar belonging to Ooty or Madras Club), that White Tweed Jacket is sumptuous and so I forgive them everything.
Sad and LAZY!!! One would’ve expected more from them than that. But – it’s creates an opportunity for more authentic voices. Get busy!
No Tanaya, Karl Lagerfeld and fashion houses like Chanel are sticklers who don’t leave styling and creative to agencies without being an integral part of the process and finished product.
Well now, that’s extraordinary. It’s all very… what do you call it? Something or other. You know… thingy.
I dont think Karl Lagerfeld has personally done up this advt campaign. its always an agency who gets a brief and they develop a campaign that is approved by Chanel. so i think u should be blaming the branding and advting agency for not liking their work rather than the designer himself.