the controversial history of chanel 👜🖤💸

one of the most well known fashion brands in the world, the house of chanel has been in business for over a century, but most people don't know the first thing about it. in today’s video we decided to take a closer look at chanel’s history, from founder gabrielle “coco” chanel’s time as a nazi spy to karl lagerfeld's controversial 90s relaunch to the brand's currently negative reputation. what are your thoughts on chanel?

follow us! 🌸

get in touch 💌

co-writer 📝
sami gotskind

editor 🎬
aalyiah victoria

music! 🎶

intro/outro by
nicole w.b

Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and this channel does not claim any right over them.

[nina__serafina]

I kinda want to see more of these fashion history breakdowns of brands. Maybe a Gucci breakdown because they have there fair share of controversies?

[monalisamartinez]

Thank you for not glossing over Chanel’s WWII Nazi involvement...a lot of people aren’t even aware of this.

[lordfreerealestate]

I'm seen a lot of people whitewash Chanel's allyship with white supremacy - claiming it wasn't that bad, or that we should still honor the woman because she helped "liberate" women and made creative contributions/changed an industry. The Nazis oppressed women horrifically - especially groups like Jewish or disabled women. This is a big problem with "girlboss" feminism - a willingness to overlook atrocities because that woman was successful, skilled, or powerful. And I think whitewashing over that is a disservice to those who suffered under Nazism. She did big things, but she was awful.

[reginageorgeitf]

Please do this type of video with other brands such as LV, YSL, Gucci, etc. I love history like this.

[nicolefranklin]

Just finished a book last week: "Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War".... what a wicked woman. I truly don't know how any person or brand can be forgiven for such a horrific past

[Sexysolja]

I always thought CC was a horrible human being. Just because you are successful as a women it doesn’t excuse heinous behaviors.

[fatcat]

Talented creator, horrible human. This is a very interesting story. 💜

[GoblinsAreAGirlsBestFriend]

As a historian, what frustrates me about stories like Gabrielle's is that they're so often presented with no true societal context, which allows for the glossing over of things like Nazism. Gabrielle pushed an unusual number of social boundaries for a woman in her times. Nobody asks _HOW?_ and that's the problem. We present it like she was "just ahead of her time", like women's liberation was a matter of 'somebody just needed to _want_ to do it'. Women from beginnings as humble as hers were ostracized (if not worse) for living the way she did (spinster, financial independence, pushing 'morality'), that's why nobody did it before her. Why was she successful at it? The answer is: she was probably a very manipulative, bad person. That doesn't mean the work she did wasn't in some way essential to women's liberation. But it does answer why women like her who thrusted us forward are often also associated with horrible things. If we don't talk about that, we leave room to not only excuse away her affiliation with white supremacy, we also allow for that requirement to keep existing. More often than not, people who cross serious societal boundaries in the name of 'liberation' can only be ruthless because those with a conscience would struggle to find a way around the dangers of doing so. We require people to be the kind of people willing to do ANYTHING. The reason she was able to break the boundaries she did was because she probably did a lot of very smart but insidious things behind closed doors to cover herself.

[ZenonnZero]

Karl Lagerfeld is disgusting idgaf how talented someone is when they have said the things he's said especially about sa. We shouldn't be celebrating someone like that.

[madelyn]

I honestly think a breakdown of the 'Bond Girl' would be a great video for this channel and really fit with it. From the fashion, to the archetype, to the misconception, I feel like that would be a great video to do. Do you think you would consider that?

[thestorybooktheater]

In my personal opinion, Chanel is tired nowadays. They're designing clothes for only one specific body type that not even all their models have. They're continuing to overuse the 1920s silhouette, which hasn't been in style for years and I don't see it making a comeback anytime soon, especially with how both body beauty standards as well as body positivity heavily juxtaposes that fashion era.

If they'd take a moment to step away from the two-piece suits with knee-length skirts, they'd probably see more of a younger audience buying their clothing. Yes, it's what they're known for, but it's too "Royal Family" in my opinion, too "Granny's Sunday Dress". Chanel continuing to avoid diversity in body types is what's holding them back from creating modern fashion that appeals to the younger, wealthier audience they've been craving.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

[understitchYT]

Fun fact about the perfume. Number 5 was meant as a Christmas gift for her best clients and wasn't intended to be for sale at first

[chelleanges]

im actually so happy you made this video since im doing my own research on Karl Lagerfeld in order to better prepare for what could be either an amazing or distrasious met gala!

[ttaj.]

If you end up doing a series of brand's histories that would be amazing! I'd especially look forward to one about Hermes, Prada, and Burberry <3

[MsNoMeGusta]

I'd love a 60's British retrospective. Malcolm Mclaren, Ossie Clark, Mary Quant, etc

[ganymededarling]

My boss just named her new dog after Coco Channel. I had to remind her that she was a Nazi. Thanks for bringing this history to light. It seems not enough people know about the type of person she was.

[patootien]

Chanel is that one brand that never managed to shake off the granny vibes to me, their designs are so tired and the "luxury" makeup is meh at best. I never looked into the history of the brand but now I see my bad vibes senses were very much justified.

[AE-ldck]

Jennie is most definitely the exception to the newest Chanel girls. She’s been a very big and vocal Chanel fan for a long time, and always found ways to creatively incorporate it. Her style is very fitting for the brand and probably a saving grace to it in many ways, given the ability of K-pop stars being seen with an item only to have it sell out.

[LennyCartwright]

Actually, "Chasnel" in French is also pronounced "Chanel". It might have been her real original name. A lot of words dropped silent S's before a "N"

[dankins]

Would love to see a video about Mugler and the new direction the brand seems to be taking with fast fashion! Or maybe the history of high fashion and commercial fashion collaborations!