The House of Chanel (Chanel S.A.) originated in 1909, when Gabrielle Chanel opened amillinery shop at 160 Boulevard Malesherbes, the ground floor of the Parisian flat of thesocialite and textile businessman Étienne Balsan, of whom she was mistress.[1] Because the Balsan flat also was a salon for the French hunting and sporting élite, Chanel had opportunity to meet their demi-mondaine mistresses, who, as such, were women of fashion, upon whom the rich men displayed their wealth — as ornate clothes, jewelry, and hats.
