Safa Sahin teams up with Chanel on new sneaker collaboration

Chanel is working with footwear designer Safa Sahin on its sneaker lineup, adding his sculptural, future‑focused approach to the house’s existing shoe offer. The collaboration sits under creative director Matthieu Blazy’s tenure, as Chanel sharpens its point of view on sneakers and contemporary footwear.

Focus of the collaboration

Safa Sahin’s role at Chanel centers on sneakers, with the designer brought into Blazy’s team specifically to work on sport influenced silhouettes. The aim is to develop footwear that feels more experimental in form while still aligned with Chanel’s established materials, finishes, and brand codes.

Rather than a single one‑off shoe, the partnership is described as ongoing, giving Sahin room to translate his language of exaggerated shapes and bold structures into multiple sneaker projects over time. That longer horizon suggests Chanel is treating this as a strategic build‑out of its sneaker category, not a short marketing capsule.

How Sahin’s style fits Chanel

Sahin is known for pushing between art and function in footwear, with past work at Nike, Balmain, and Bottega Veneta defined by oversized volumes, unconventional sole units, and strong visual impact. At Balmain, for example, he led the development of the Unicorn sneaker and other dramatic silhouettes designed to stand out on the runway and in streetwear.

At Chanel, that impulse has to coexist with the maison’s signatures: cleaner lines, refined materials, and an emphasis on longevity. The collaboration’s interest lies in how those two approaches meet, using more sculptural forms and sneaker constructions without losing the clarity and polish associated with the brand.

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Why this collaboration matters

Bringing in Safa Sahin reflects a wider move within luxury to treat sneaker design as a specialist discipline, led by named designers with distinct aesthetics. For Chanel, which is best known for footwear classics like ballerinas and Mary Janes, investing in a dedicated sneaker voice signals an intention to grow that part of the business with greater design weight.