Women's cycling apparel brand Jelenew has teamed up with Christelle Kocher, artistic director of Maison Lemarie, CHANEL's atelier, to create a functional sportswear collection using the latest designs and techniques in Chanel haute couture and incorporating it into the brand's fashion sports collection.
The Jelenew x Kocher clothing line also draws inspiration from female cyclist Beryl Markham's autobiography, "West With the Night," which, like cycling, "Cycling is an experience that blends the splendor of nature with the excitement of speed." Jelenew believes that this courage to explore is the fulcrum for people to find balance with their external environment and relationships. Jelenew said.
Featuring Jelenew's proprietary CurveTec technology, the collection blends the dark browns, greens, and oranges of African landscapes, with contrasts of black, white, and gray.
Kocher's rise to prominence in the world of haute couture stems from her artistic talent and deep understanding of the luxury industry. She honed her skills at prestigious fashion houses such as Bottega Veneta and Dries Van Noten.
In 2010, she joined Chanel as Artistic Director of Maison Lemarie, blending her passion for sports with her runway collections. In 2022, her label Koché collaborated with sports teams and sports brands to create a collection that upcycled fabrics and prints, redesigning, tailoring, sewing and decorating garments to make them luxury pieces with an athleisure twist.