Adrian Cheng and Carine Roitfeld Announce Savoir-Faire: The Mastery Of Craft In Fashion, Asia’s First Multi-Brand Exhibition

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Savoir-Faire: The Mastery of Craft in Fashion, an exhibition opening at K11 Art & Cultural Centre in Hong Kong’s Victoria Dockside on December 13, will showcase the world of craftsmanship in fashion and the importance of preserving treasured atelier traditions – presenting exquisite and diverse cases of couture through history. Savoir-Faire is the latest instalment of an ongoing collaboration between world-renowned fashion stylist and editor Carine Roitfeld and cultural entrepreneur Adrian Cheng. With works of haute couture and prêt-à-porter on display, Savoir Faire: The Mastery of Craft in Fashion will provide a platform to highlight pieces of the next generation and rare artefacts from the K11 Craft & Guild Foundation.

Adrian Cheng | Founder of K11 Craft

Organised around a series of core themes and featuring Carine Roitfeld’s carefully curated selection, the captivating exhibition will present rare and masterful works from acclaimed houses including Chanel, Dior, Schiaparelli, Iris van Herpen, Richard Quinn, and one-of-a-kind pieces from Roitfeld’s private collection. Designed to be both visually and physically mesmerising, the exhibition will take its audience on a visual journey into the immersive pages of Roitfeld’s iconic fashion editorials.

“Through the understanding of craftsmanship—the transmission of tradition, ideas, and techniques between societies and culture—fashion has been creating deeply collaborative relationships of connection and exchange,” said Adrian Cheng, the CEO of New World Development and Founder of K11 Craft & Guild Foundation. “I am thrilled to be working with Carine to bring forth a potent illustration of the power in craft and artisanship so we may also collectively celebrate its innovation for the future. Together, we bring this unprecedented exhibition to Asia for the first time to rejuvenate the cultural landscape of Hong Kong.”

© CHANEL FW 2017-18 HC – Close-up pictures (021)- Courtesy of Chanel

“Throughout history, editors have used the pages of magazines as a canvas to bring to life fashion’s most extraordinary ideas and creations,” said Carine Roitfeld, Founder and Director of CR studio and curator of Savoir-Faire. “By harnessing an editorial approach to the storytelling and visual journey, this exhibition will showcase some of the most exemplary cases of craft in a way that, we hope, motivates a deep appreciation for the history and heart of fashion among the next generation. These young visitors are inspiring the future of our industry, and I hope that our work serves to spark their imagination, creativity, and commitment to keeping fashion’s most significant techniques alive.”

The exhibition’s debut will be a global affair as Cheng and Roitfeld host two thoughtfully personalised celebrations from their home cities. On December 10, Roitfeld will host her celebrations with supporting friends and designers, concluding with an intimate reception at the historic Hôtel de Crillon, a Rosewood Hotel in Paris. Simultaneously, Cheng will host a memorable opening event, titled ‘K11 NIGHT’ in Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Dockside promenade. Incorporating a charity auction to support UNESCO and the K11 Craft & Guild Foundation, the proceeds will go towards the conservation and rejuvenation of fast-disappearing craftmanship. Connected via a virtual live stream, Cheng and Roitfeld will unite leading creatives from around the world for an intercontinental toast to craftmanship, cultural exchange and the official commencement of the exhibition.

Provided by Richard Quinn

The exhibition is part of the ongoing collaboration between Cheng and Roitfeld. Together, they launched K11 Original Masters last year, a three-part webinar series that brings forth leaders of modern artistry, providing a platform to showcase renowned, century-old artisanship in a first-of-its-kind digital program designed for the progressive social media era. The first two episodes feature captivating conversations that Cheng and Roitfeld had with leaders from Chanel and Dior, with the final instalments launching in November.

DIOR | SAVOIR FAIRE © SOPHIE CARRE (232)

Produced by CR Studios, Savoir-Faire: The Mastery of Craft in Fashion opens on December 13, 2021, and will be exhibited until February 14, 2022, at the K11 Art and Cultural Centre, located at K11 MUSEA. Attendees will experience the opportunity to discover bespoke pieces and rare offerings that highlight legendary couture craftsmanship. In addition, attendees will be fortunate enough to observe, first-hand, the dedication and hours of input that each Maison required to carry on their time-honoured heritage.

The designer and couture houses participating in the exhibition include Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Celine, Chanel, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Iris van Herpen, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Matty Bovan, Thierry Mugler, Oscar de la Renta, Paco Rabanne, Richard Quinn, Yves Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, Tom Van Der Borght, Valentino, Versace, and Viktor & Rolf.

Article by Holly Lewis – Fashion Feature Writer