Brand: CHANEL
Country of Origin: France š«š·
Founded: 1910
Industry: Luxury Fashion, Leather Goods, Fragrance, Beauty, Watches & Fine Jewellery
Company: Chanel Limited
Global CEO: Leena Nair
Fashion Artistic Director: Matthieu Blazy
Official Website: CHANEL
Featured By: ASIA Best Brands ā Global Brands
About CHANEL
CHANEL is one of the worldās most influential luxury houses, recognised for its Haute Couture, ready-to-wear, handbags, fragrances, beauty, watches and fine jewellery.
Founded by Gabrielle āCocoā Chanel, the House transformed womenās fashion through an approach centred on simplicity, freedom of movement and understated elegance. More than a century later, many of those principles remain fundamental to CHANELās identity.
From a Paris Hat Boutique to a Global House
Gabrielle Chanel opened her first independent millinery boutique at 21 rue Cambon in Paris in 1910. She later expanded to Deauville and Biarritz before establishing her couture house.
Her designs challenged the restrictive fashion conventions of the period. Jersey fabrics, masculine-inspired pieces and simpler silhouettes helped create a wardrobe designed around movement and modern lifestyles.
CHANEL eventually became associated with enduring fashion codes including the little black dress, tweed jacket, two-tone shoes, quilted handbags, pearls and camellia motifs.
Haute Couture and Savoir-Faire
Haute Couture remains at the heart of CHANEL.
Gabrielle Chanel established her couture house in 1915, and CHANEL describes itself today as the oldest Haute Couture house still in operation. Its Haute Couture activities remain centred at 31 rue Cambon in Paris.
Garments can require hundreds of hours of handwork and combine specialist techniques in tailoring, embroidery, braiding, pleating and textile decoration.
CHANEL has also invested extensively in its MĆ©tiers dāart, bringing specialist houses such as Lesage, LemariĆ©, Goossens, Massaro and Maison Michel into its creative ecosystem. Many are based at le19M, the Parisian craftsmanship hub initiated by CHANEL.
Icons That Define the Brand
CHANEL NĀ°5 EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY. Image Source: CHANEL.
CHANEL has created several products that became lasting symbols of luxury.
CHANEL NĀ°5, launched in 1921 in collaboration with perfumer Ernest Beaux, was the Houseās first fragrance. Gabrielle Chanel selected the fifth fragrance sample presented to her, inspiring its name.
Another defining creation is the 2.55 handbag, introduced in February 1955. Its quilted construction and chain shoulder strap allowed women to carry a handbag while keeping their hands free.
These products demonstrate CHANELās ability to create recognisable design codes that can be continuously reinterpreted without losing their original identity.
A New Creative Chapter
CHANEL entered a new fashion era with the appointment of Matthieu Blazy as Artistic Director of Fashion Activities.
Blazy joined the House in 2025 with responsibility for Haute Couture, Ready-to-Wear and Accessories. His first CHANEL ready-to-wear collection, Spring-Summer 2026, was presented at the Grand Palais in Paris in October 2025.
His appointment represents the latest chapter in CHANELās approach of combining established House codes with contemporary creative interpretation.
Fashion, Fragrance and Fine Jewellery
CHANEL today operates across three major areas: Fashion, Fragrance & Beauty, and Watches & Fine Jewellery.
Its fashion business extends from Haute Couture and ready-to-wear to handbags, shoes and accessories. Fragrance and Beauty includes iconic products such as NĀ°5 alongside skincare and makeup, while Watches & Fine Jewellery includes collections such as J12 and COCO CRUSH.
This diversity allows CHANEL to maintain a strong identity across multiple luxury categories while controlling the way its products are created, presented and distributed.
A Significant Presence Across Asia Pacific
CHANEL Cruise 2025/26 collection at Raffles Hotel Singapore. Image Source: CNA Luxury.
Asia Pacific is CHANELās largest geographic region by revenue.
In 2025, CHANEL generated approximately US$9.18 billion in Asia-Pacific revenue, compared with US$6.05 billion in Europe and US$4.03 billion in the Americas.
The House continued investing across Asian markets during the year, including projects in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Fukuoka, Bangkok and Kyoto. New Watches & Fine Jewellery boutiques also opened in Bangkok and Hong Kong.
CHANEL further highlighted its connection with Southeast Asia by presenting its Cruise 2025/26 collection at Raffles Hotel Singapore.
Long-Term Investment in Luxury
CHANEL remains privately held and follows a long-term investment strategy rather than focusing primarily on short-term expansion.
For 2025, Chanel Limited reported approximately US$19.3 billion in revenue, up 2% on a comparable basis, and US$4.71 billion in operating profit.
The company invested approximately US$2.4 billion in brand activities during the year and maintained US$1.45 billion in capital expenditure. More than 40 boutiques were opened worldwide, while CHANEL employed approximately 38,000 people at year-end.
These investments extend beyond retail into craftsmanship, manufacturing, innovation and the specialist suppliers that support the Houseās products.
Why CHANEL Is Featured on ASIA Best Brands
CHANEL demonstrates how a luxury brand can remain relevant for more than a century by protecting its identity while continuously allowing creativity to evolve.
From Gabrielle Chanelās revolutionary approach to womenās fashion to NĀ°5, the 2.55 handbag, Haute Couture and todayās collections under Matthieu Blazy, the House has created design codes recognised across generations.
Its strong commercial presence and continued investment across China, Japan, Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region also make Asia an essential part of CHANELās global story.
By combining heritage, craftsmanship, exclusivity and creative renewal, CHANEL remains one of the worldās defining luxury brands and an important global brand featured on ASIA Best Brands.
Official Website:
CHANEL Official Website
Category: Luxury Fashion | Leather Goods | Beauty | Watches & Fine Jewellery
Tags: CHANEL, Coco Chanel, Luxury Fashion, Haute Couture, CHANEL NĀ°5, CHANEL Handbags, French Luxury, Matthieu Blazy, Asia Pacific, ASIA Best Brands
Sources
1. CHANEL ā Official Website
Official website covering CHANEL Fashion, Beauty, Fragrance, Watches and Fine Jewellery.
Visit CHANEL
2. CHANEL ā Gabrielle Chanel
Official history of Gabrielle Chanel and the development of the Houseās defining style.
Gabrielle Chanel ā Founder of CHANEL
3. CHANEL ā Haute Couture History
Official information covering CHANELās couture heritage, ateliers and craftsmanship.
CHANEL Haute Couture History
4. CHANEL ā NĀ°5 History
Official information covering the launch and development of CHANEL NĀ°5.
CHANEL NĀ°5 and the 1920s
5. CHANEL ā 2.55 Handbag
Official history and craftsmanship information covering Gabrielle Chanelās 1955 handbag.
CHANEL 2.55 Handbag
6. CHANEL ā Matthieu Blazy
Official announcement of Matthieu Blazy as Artistic Director of Fashion Activities.
Matthieu Blazy at CHANEL
7. CHANEL ā 2025 Financial Results
Official information covering 2025 revenue, Asia-Pacific performance, investment and global expansion.
CHANEL Financial Results
8. CHANEL ā Cruise 2025/26 Singapore
Official information covering the presentation of the Cruise collection at Raffles Hotel Singapore.
CHANEL Cruise 2025/26 Singapore