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Chanel glamour comes to now fashionable Cuba Chanel glamour comes to now fashionable Cuba
(1 day later)
The French fashion house Chanel is bringing glamour to old Havana on Tuesday when it stages its first Latin American fashion show on the communist island. International celebrities and Cuban bigwigs have graced the red carpet in Havana as the French fashion house Chanel staged its first Latin American catwalk show.
It is the latest in a stream of international cultural events hosted by Cuba as the country opens up its diplomatic and commercial relations. “The cultural richness and the opening up of Cuba to the world have turned it into a source of inspiration for Chanel,” the company said. Karl Lagerfeld’s latest collection was infused with the styles and colours of the Caribbean island.
Cubans without an invitation to the exclusive event packed the balconies of old Havana or lined the police cordon outside, straining to catch a glimpse.
“What a sight. But I would have liked to be closer to the models,” said 52-year-old Mireya Correoso, who said she had never seen so much luxury and showbiz in one place.
It was the latest in a stream of international cultural events on the communist island as it opens up its diplomatic and commercial relations.
“The world is finally opening up to Cuba. Everyone wants to come and taste the forbidden fruit. Everyone wants to discover it, savour it, enjoy it, explore it,” said Mariela Castro, the daughter of the president, Raúl Castro, and a prominent gay-rights activist on the island.
Other high-profile people attending included the Hollywood stars Vin Diesel, Tilda Swinton and Geraldine Chaplin. Diesel is in town shooting the latest Fast and Furious action movie.
Related: First US cruise ship in decades docks in Cuba – and gets warm welcomeRelated: First US cruise ship in decades docks in Cuba – and gets warm welcome
The show will present the latest collection by the German designer Karl Lagerfeld, inspired by the colours of the Caribbean and classic “aesthetics of Cuba”. Last month the Rolling Stones played a concert in Cuba, after a visit by the US president, Barack Obama.
Among a stream of visiting celebrities and top officials, the Rolling Stones played a concert here last month after a visit by US president Barack Obama. Obama and Castro’s December 2014 announcement of a rapprochement between their two countries has kindled new interest in Cuba, long isolated by a US embargo and its status as one of the last bastions of communism.
A Hollywood film crew has meanwhile been shooting the latest Fast and Furious action movie in the streets of Havana. In announcing the show, Chanel said: “The cultural richness and the opening up of Cuba to the world have turned it into a source of inspiration.”
For Tuesday’s fashion show, an open-air catwalk has been installed on the Paseo del Prado, a long seaside boulevard among scruffy old buildings. The show took place on an open-air catwalk on the Paseo del Prado, a long seaside boulevard in a scruffy neighbourhood that got a makeover for the occasion.
Raul Castillo, Cuba’s best-known living designer, said he was excited. “It is a dream to see the work of a designer like Lagerfeld here in socialist Cuba,” he said. The half-hour show ended with a brief appearance by the German designer, dressed in his trademark gloves and a sequin jacket, who received a burst of applause and conga drums.
However, some Cubans remained cynical of the fashion house’s presence on the island. “I think that catwalk is going to be more for Chanel than for Cuba,” said designer Idania del Rio, 33. “I don’t know whether the people here in Cuba are ready for this type of product.” Speaking before the show, the local designer Idania del Rio said: “I think that catwalk is going to be more for Chanel than for Cuba. I don’t know whether the people here in Cuba are ready for this type of product.”
Nevertheless, as a fashion designer she is curious to see the show: “I want to see what $40,000 clothing looks like.” Nevertheless, as a fashion designer she was curious: “I want to see what $40,000 clothing looks like,” she said.
For years, the communist principles that ruled in Cuba after revolutionary Fidel Castro won power in 1959 insisted on equality, even in clothing. Foreign brands were not available until the 1990s, when the market started to open up. Afterwards, the 33-year-old was not entirely impressed: “It was very interesting and maybe too nostalgic. A lot of Cuban cigars, colours and hats from another era. It represented a Cuba that doesn’t interest me right now, because today’s Cuba is another, more contemporary Cuba.”
“There is nothing uglier than standardisation,” wrote Cuban author Arturo Arango. “With standardisation comes apathy and alienation. All that leads fatally to ugliness.” For years, the communist principles that ruled in Cuba after Fidel Castro won power in the 1959 revolution insisted on equality, even in clothing. Foreign brands were not available until the 1990s, when the market started to open up gradually.
Cuba entered a crisis after the Soviet Union, which had financially supported its communist government, fell in 1991. Cubans had to wear imported second-hand clothes from state-run stores. Cuba entered a crisis after the Soviet Union, which had financially supported its communist government, fell in 1991. Cubans had to wear imported second-hand clothes from state-run stores. Authorities called it “recycled clothing” but ordinary Cubans referred to their trips to the official shops as “rag-shopping”.
Authorities called it “recycled clothing” but ordinary Cubans referred to their trips to the official shops as “rag-shopping”.
With its cabarets and casinos frequented by US film stars and gangsters, pre-revolutionary Cuba had a thriving fashion scene. The end of the Soviet era encouraged a rebirth.With its cabarets and casinos frequented by US film stars and gangsters, pre-revolutionary Cuba had a thriving fashion scene. The end of the Soviet era encouraged a rebirth.
“People here know how to sew. There are lots of good designers and people are looking for ways to buy the clothes they want,” said del Rio. But it is “a very slow recovery,” she added. The future of fashion will depend on if and when US politicians end the 54-year-old embargo – still in place despite the diplomatic thaw.
Castillo said Cuban fashion was “going through a good moment. We are opening to the world … It is very important that Chanel is coming.” “When we become a normal country, without the embargo, we will be leaders of fashion,” said Cuba’s best-known living designer, Raúl Castillo.
The future of fashion will depend on if and when US politicians end the 54-year trade embargo on Cuba, which is still in place despite the diplomatic thaw. “When we become a normal country, without the embargo, we will be leaders of fashion,” Castillo said.