Last May, Keira Knightley, Sofia Coppola, Lupita Nyong’o and members of the fashion set sat on the sunny terrace of Villa d’Este on Lake Como as Chanel held its Cruise 2025/2026 runway show in Italy. The location served as the backdrop for a collection that included alluring pieces that would be found in the well-appointed luggage of a jet-setting woman vacationing at a resort. These include a pink swimsuit with a coordinating cover-up, a crisp blue pant set cinched with a chain belt, a tiered evening gown, 25 quilted bags, and a printed silk scarf. I later learned that the scarves featured in this collection have a deeper connection to the region, as they are made by Mantello, a local silk manufacturing company. I discovered this when I visited Lake Como with Chanel in October this year with a group of global creative talent.
After landing at Malpensa Airport, we took a picturesque drive from Milan to Lake Como and passed through the entrance of the incomparable Villa d’Este. Upon arrival, we sat down for lakeside tea on the veranda where the Cruise 2025/2026 collection was launched just a few months ago. It was an afternoon soaking up the amazing destination and seeing the scarves up close from the runway. Each of the six scarves presented in the Chanel Cruise 2025/2026 collection is Special reissue from the Mantello Archiverevives an iconic motif designed by Karl Lagerfeld during his tenure as the fashion house’s creative director.
(Image credit: Julia Marino)
Silk scarves are a timeless classic, but have recently re-emerged as a key accessory in the fashion world and a cult buy on runways and street style. For those who have loved iconic scarf prints over the past few decades, Chanel is bringing back some of its most coveted prints for these special re-releases. “Reproduction scarves from the 80s and 90s remind me of all the vintage magic I love.” sabrina lan Sharing “classic logos, bold prints, and a fearless Chanel energy that never goes out of style.”
(Image credit: Julia Marino)
From braided chains to interlocking double C’s to sophisticated floral prints, the reissue scarves revive some of Chanel’s most iconic prints and connect with some of the fashion house’s most influential moments of the past few decades. “It reminds me of the Chanel shows in the early ’90s, that bold, baroque energy with silk scarves,” he says. Vicky Montanaria look back at the moment in Chanel’s archives when the scarf first appeared. “The prints were iconic with the same gold chains, colors and attitude. I love how those looks still feel modern.”
(Image credit: Julia Marino)
Tea time quickly evolved into a moment to dress up in a scarf. From person to person, they were styled in creative ways: folded into timeless headscarves, draped over the shoulder, tied to bags, and tailored as belts. “I love wearing scarves around my neck for a classic look or as a headscarf when I go out.” Christy Tyler She shares how she styles her accessories. “I love scarves to convey visual appeal, so I like to keep the rest of the outfit minimal and let the intricate patterns of the scarf speak for me.”
(Image credit: Julia Marino)
The beauty of a satin scarf lies in its versatility and how it reflects the style of the person wearing it. The neck is draped, channeling the bourgeois style of the Left Bank of Paris in the 1980s. Wrapped under the chin like a scarf, it evokes the classic elegance of 1950s movie stars. “I love wearing a scarf on my head. It instantly elevates even the simplest outfit and makes me feel effortlessly chic,” Lan shared of her style. “There’s something timeless about it. It makes me feel like an old Hollywood star, but still feels like myself. It’s classic but with a modern twist, and it’s perfect for my everyday style.”
(Image credit: Julia Marino)
The next day we were granted special access to Mantello, a specialist silk manufacturer founded in Como in 1902. The company has been collaborating with Chanel since 1973. Our history of collaboration as partners spanning more than half a century is as rich as the collection of archives housed at Mantello. When we stepped inside the atelier door, we were immersed in an extensive collection of vintage scarf designs and saw firsthand how they are handcrafted.
(Image credit: Julia Marino)
Now run by the fourth generation of Mantelos, it quickly became clear that Chanel Scarves is revered for its atelier’s passion, history and sense of savoir-faire. “I was immediately struck by how proud everyone who worked there was, from founder Riccardo Mantello’s great-granddaughter Lucia, to the archivists, to the CEO, to the production floor.” Moya Mawhinney Shared. “You could tell how passionate they were about Mantello’s history and their role, and their energy was contagious. It felt like all that pride and positivity was woven into their work.”
(Image credit: Julia Marino)
The headquarters’ extensive archives include a library of thousands of Chanel scarves designed by the fashion house over 50 years. Walking into the archives, I found rows and rows of meticulous catalogs of scarves spanning decades. “I had a great time going through all of the Chanel archives and seeing just a few of the Mantello references,” says Mawhinney. “I could have been in the archives for hours!”
(Image credit: Julia Marino)
During our tour of Mantero, we learned about the process involved in making scarves. This is a traditional methodology that demonstrates exceptional craftsmanship that has been honed for over a century. “Until this visit, I had no idea how scarves were made,” she shares. Tan Xuan. “After experiencing the entire process, I realized that the craftsmanship and savoir-faire involved several different techniques, and even choosing the colors for the prints was very complex.”
(Image credit: Julia Marino)
The process begins by sourcing silk from the best producers in China. The creative team then takes part in the design, starting with the archives. A print specialist for more than 123 years, Mantello has built an incredible archive of over 200,000 items, including old books, rare kimonos, and printed fabrics that serve as sources of inspiration. After the design is created and the colors chosen, the scarf is printed. “Silk is a very complex and difficult process, from harvesting the silk from worm cocoons to printing up to 30 colors on a factory line to make one scarf,” says Tyler. “You can see so much artistry behind every product and design, from the colors chosen to the final design. Every detail is considered and worked on to create the most beautiful products imaginable.”
(Image credit: Julia Marino)
After learning about the multi-step process of layering scarves, the next leg of the tour involved a costume change. Our group wore Mantello uniforms, smart navy blue lab coats, and took part in a workshop where we directly screen printed scarves. We watched the scarf come to life right before our eyes, screen by screen, layer by layer, color by color, in a handcrafted process. “I saw the immense effort behind the creation of each piece. The scarf I was wearing suddenly felt meaningful and heavy.” He Huixiang I explained this after visiting Mantello. “From silk production and design creation to the printing stage, each intricate step demonstrates the dedication of the artisans and the obvious joy of working at Chanel.”
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