Bold statement: Chanel’s 2025 Métiers d’Arts show in New York didn’t just premiere new faces; it redefined the meaning of a runway debut by pairing fresh talent with a city’s iconic corridors of history and style. And this is the part most people miss: the collection and the moment work together to launch careers in ways that pre-tame supermodel lineups rarely achieve.
Meet the models who stepped into the spotlight for Chanel’s 2025 Métiers d’Arts show in New York City. The presentation, staged in an old, abandoned Lower Manhattan subway station, followed Matthieu Blazy’s signature approach of valuing individuality over fame. While the audience on the front row included familiar figures like Linda Evangelista, Tilda Swinton, Dapper Dan, and Christine Baranski, Blazy’s focus on an authentic casting process continued to set the tone for the season.
In terms of the runway, Blazy once again leaned away from relying on established stars. Chanel’s spring 2026 ready-to-wear lineup showcased a relatively anonymous roster, yet it proved to be a career-making moment for one standout newcomer: Awar Odhiang. Odhiang’s climactic walk and radiant smile captured the fashion world’s attention, instantly elevating her status to that of a rising star.
Today’s New York show continued that trend, delivering a slate of fresh faces and memorable introductions. While several participants hail from the United States—Mannie Lafan from Chicago, Riley Lusher from Jessup, Georgia, and Nolie Munn representing Kansas—Chanel cast models from every corner of the globe. Brazil, Canada, Senegal, and South Africa were all represented, and each model carried personal passions beyond modeling, from scrapbooking to vinyl collecting to fishing.
Below is a close look at some of the models making their runway debuts at Chanel’s 2025 Métiers d’Arts show in New York City.
— Hannah Jackson, a Vogue fashion writer who covers celebrity style, trends, and occasionally culture, contributed background and context to this feature. Her work has appeared in Elle, The Cut, Architectural Digest, Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone, W, and other outlets, and she resides in New York.
