Maison Lesage is a historic French master craftsmanship owned by Chanel, known for creating exquisite, jewel-like embroideries for top fashion houses since 1924. This collaboration marks the brand’s 100th anniversary and also coincides with the opening of the exhibition “Lesage: 100 Years of Fashion and Decoration” at the 19M Gallery in Paris.
To mark the occasion, Chanel and Cabana founder Martina Mondadori hosted an intimate dinner and opened the doors to the 7L bookstore, located in Karl Lagerfeld’s former photography studio, which also houses his 30,000-volume memorial library. The legendary designer founded 7L in 1999; after Chanel’s death, Chanel acquired the company and its publishing arm Editions 7L in 2021.
Lagerfeld’s spirit still lives in the salon; despite his discerning taste, he would surely have appreciated the elegant tablescape as well as his personal trouser treasures. Four antique tableware sets from Manufacture de Meissen, Atelier Gustavsberg Kage and La Compagnie des Arts Français are displayed on the long table, cleverly matched together, along with monogrammed silver cutlery, and the table covered with a beautifully embroidered pure white tablecloth was decorated with a delicate Lalique glass vase filled with colorful bouquets in the center.
This thoughtfully designed setting is the perfect setting to celebrate Cabana’s imaginative, refined art of living. Milan-based Mondadori comes from an Italian publishing family and has a natural appreciation for exquisite and rare books. With a keen eye for beauty and a deep curiosity about the wider culture – from travel and interior design to photography and fashion, she has made Cabana a wonderful blend of all her passions. She founded the publication in 2004: “It all started when I was living in London as a young mother. I felt nostalgic for my country and its way of life; it made me look at the house in Milan where I grew up, and its manor by Renzo Mongiardino, through different perspectives.
Mondadori has grown Cabana into a cohesive community of loyal friends, aesthetes and supporters who share a passion for refined cultural journeys. They gathered to celebrate her collaboration with Lesage; in attendance were photographer François Halard, writer and connoisseur Miguel Flores-Vianna, interior architect and designer Vincent Daré, artist Ashley Hicks and Lesage CEO Hubert Barrere, all enjoying this holiday party. “Lesage and Chanel did a great job of bringing their exceptional haute couture craftsmanship into the editorial space to create a truly unique cover for Cabana, which fills me with pride,” Mondadori shared while wearing a stunning gold Chanel evening gown. “Working with them is a dream come true.”
