Report: Chanel's H1 Sales Surge 16%, Outperforming Luxury Peers Like LVMH
According to media reports, Chanel's comparable revenue grew by 16% in the first half of the year, with sales in the US market rising by over 25%. The core driver was the product line officially launched in March by new designer Matthieu Blazy. The fashion division accounted for 60% of revenue, with sales growth close to the overall 16% increase; the watches and jewelry division accounted for 15% of revenue, with sales surging by 35%. In the same period, the organic sales of LVMH's Fashion and Leather Goods division grew by only 1%
Chanel has stood out in the fragmented luxury industry with impressive performance results. The company's comparable revenue grew by approximately 16% in the first half of the year, significantly surpassing major competitors like LVMH, confirming the strong resonance of new designer Matthieu Blazy's creations in the high-end consumer market.
According to Bloomberg, citing informed sources, the core driver of this growth came from the series of products officially launched by Blazy in March this year. Despite complex geopolitical and consumption environments, these new products, covering ready-to-wear, haute couture, and accessories, were enthusiastically sought after by affluent consumers.
Growth covered all regions, with the US market performing particularly outstandingly, with sales increasing by more than 25%. The source added that this momentum continued into July, but due to a harder comparison base in the second half of the year, full-year performance may be lower than that of the first half.
This performance contrasts with the overall divergence in the luxury industry. Richemont, driven mainly by its jewelry brand Cartier, saw sales grow by 20% in the last quarter at constant exchange rates; meanwhile, the organic sales growth of LVMH's core Fashion and Leather Goods division was only 1%. Chanel's strong data further highlights the performance divergence among top brands.
New Designer Effect: Fashion Division Leads Growth
The series released by Blazy in March this year is the core driver of Chanel's current round of growth. Responsible for ready-to-wear, haute couture, and accessories, his creations have triggered a strong market response despite cautious consumer sentiment.
The fashion division is Chanel's largest business unit, contributing about 60% of the group's revenue. The sales growth rate of this division in the first half was close to the group's overall increase of about 16%.
A noteworthy comparison is Christian Dior Couture, which recently introduced new designer Jonathan Anderson and belongs to LVMH's Fashion and Leather Goods division. Its performance was slightly higher than the division's average, but overall, it could not mask the weak trend of LVMH's core business.
Chanel's brand heat is also reflected in third-party data. The latest quarterly ranking from global shopping platform Lyst shows Chanel topping the list of fashionable brands, with two of its products being highly sought after: a pair of pale green crocodile leather heels with black trim priced at 1,300 euros (approximately $1,498), and a soft leather oversized flap bag priced at 8,250 euros.
Watches and Jewelry Surge Ahead, Perfume and Beauty Grow Steadily
The smaller watches and jewelry division became the biggest highlight of this round of growth.
Sales in this division surged by about 35% in the first half of the year, largely thanks to the Coco Crush jewelry collection, while watch sales also grew simultaneously. This growth rate far exceeded the group's average and also echoed the strong performance of Cartier under Richemont, reflecting the sustained robust demand for high-end jewelry globally.
The watches and jewelry division accounts for about 15% of Chanel Group's total revenue.
The perfume and beauty division recorded sales growth of about 8%, showing relatively steady performance, consistent with the trend of relative resilience in the beauty category within the overall luxury market. This division accounts for about 25% of the group's total revenue.
Limited Performance Transparency Under Private Structure
Chanel is held by brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, whose respective net worths are estimated at about $46 billion each according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
As a private company, Chanel publishes its annual results only once a year. The company disclosed in May this year that full-year sales in 2024 grew by 1.8% to $19.3 billion.
The impressive performance in the first half has established a clear market coordinate for Chanel in the competitive landscape of the luxury industry in 2025.
As the comparison base rises in the second half of the year, full-year growth faces natural downward pressure, and investors and industry observers still need to maintain prudent expectations for its final full-year performance.
