Chanel’s regular Métiers d’Art shows may be all about promoting the label and what its artisans can do, but the giant event earlier this month also gave its latest location — Manchester — a giant economic boost.
Manchester is already popularly acknowledged to be the UK’s second city as far as the fashion sector is concerned with many of the mass-market’s biggest names based there. But the Chanel show saw global celebrities, influencers, and press descending on the city, turning it into a temporary luxury hub.
Analysis from Marketing Manchester suggests that the city saw a direct economic impact of around £8 million, as well as much, much more indirectly.
That figure comes from the fact that around 600 guests and staff stayed in Manchester hotels, many for three to four days, while also spending money there on top of the money that spent on the production and other show-related costs.
But the £8 million doesn’t include the effect of positive national and international media coverage for Manchester and when that’s taken into account the analysts said there could be a value of more than £100 million.
It’s undeniable that Manchester’s status as a fashion hub has been enhanced and this could help it attract future investment, driving more jobs and other opportunities for the region.
Other benefits included Manchester itself having to bear none of the costs (Chanel paid for the cleaning up and road closures), while 50 Manchester Met fashion students had behind-the-scenes roles, giving them valuable experience they couldn’t normally have.
Council Leader Bev Craig emphasised how the event will “help cement Manchester’s reputation on a global stage and come with both direct [and] indirect benefits”.
And Marketing Manchester MD Victoria Braddock said “the scale of the impact of the Chanel Métiers d’Art show in Manchester will be felt for years to come”.
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.