Bhavitha Mandava Makes History as the First Indian to Open Chanel’s Métiers d’Art

At the age of 25, Bhavitha Mandava secured a moment in fashion that generally models spend years chasing. The talent born in Hyderabad has become the first Indian to open Chanel's prestigious Métiers d’Art 2026 showcase in New York. Her milestone was widely reported becasue her story felt cinematic the way it began. This article brings her story from Hyderabad to the global catwalk, how, in a moment, her student life turned into one of couture's most-watched presentations.


Bhavita Mandava was born and raised in Hyderabad. She took her graduation degree from JNTU and moved to the US to pursue a Master's degree in Interactive Design and Media. Modelling wasn't her cup of tea at that moment. One day, an unexpected thing happened in her life. She was in New York subway station in a simple dress of Jeans and a tee when Matthieu Blazy, the acclaimed French-Belgian designer, reached her. The designer is known for his most influential collection in recent years.
Within days, her real life turned into a movie scene. Bhavitha's life showed up with endless blessings. She found herself navigating castings, fittings and international fashion weeks. Under Blazy she made her debut as a Bottega Veneta exclusive and there on she walked for major shows in Paris, New York, Milan and London

Chanel's Métiers d’Art presentation which was staged on a re-imagined New York subway platform. Bhavitha walk there first, a position generally reserved for the model who sets the tone for the collection. The choice carried symbolic weight becasue she had once been scouted on the same transit system and amazingly she was now opening a show which was designed by Matthieu Blazy himself. Fashion titles and Indian media hailed the moment as historic celebrating a new level of Indian representation on a house runway that has shaped luxury fashion for over a century.

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