Step inside the Shan 40th-anniversary gala at Miami’s St. Regis Residences. Explore the brand’s legacy through archival fashion and a commitment to timeless craftsmanship.
Step inside the Shan 40th-anniversary gala at Miami’s St. Regis Residences. Explore the brand’s legacy through archival fashion and a commitment to timeless craftsmanship.
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In an industry obsessed with the next new thing, longevity is the rarest luxury of all. Last week, under the soft glow of a Miami sunset at the St. Regis Residences Sunny Isles Beach, Canadian fashion house Shan offered a masterclass in it. The occasion was a 40th-anniversary retrospective; an intimate, thoughtful homage to four decades of a family-run vision that has, almost imperceptibly, shaped how we think about resort elegance.
The glamorous evening welcomed tastemakers alongside supermodel Chanel Iman and luminaries from fashion, media, and finance, creating a sophisticated audience befitting Shan’s time-honored legacy. Guests were welcomed with Champagne Lallier upon arrival, with impeccably crafted signature cocktails by Campari and Presidente Bar circulating throughout the night, while Amerant Bank Wealth Management’s participation underscored the elevated profile of the gathering.
The setting itself was a star. Sebastian Sangranichne, Vice President of Château Group, and Isabella Holguin, Director of Sales for The Residences, along with their team, personally greeted guests, highlighting the gallery’s presentation of the property’s architectural vision—a stunning oceanfront backdrop that mirrored Shan’s own ethos of seamless, elegant living.
Here, amid dazzling outfits, lables, and the buzz of conversation, archival pieces—a bold 80s maillot, a delicate silk chiffon kaftan from the 90s, a precisely tailored linen jumpsuit from the 2010s—were not merely displayed on models from FORD. They were presented as chapters in a continuous story.
That story begins and continues with family. Founder Chantal Levesque, who took the floor with a quiet authority, laid the foundation from a simple desire to fill an unfilled niche. Today, the creative baton is held by her son, Nathan Gilbert, who speaks of the brand’s evolution with the reverence of a historian and the sharp eye of a modern strategist.
“Celebrating Shan’s 40th anniversary was a powerful moment for our family and our team,” Gilbert reflected, surrounded by garments spanning his mother’s career. “Looking back reinforced how important it has been for us to evolve while remaining deeply rooted in our values. From keeping our production in Canada to working with partners who share our commitment to quality, our community, and the environment, those principles continue to guide everything we do.”
This isn’t corporate rhetoric. It’s the operational truth. Every Shan garment, from a structured swimsuit to a fluid evening dress, is still born in the brand’s atelier in Laval, Quebec—a conscious choice that speaks volumes in an era of distant supply chains and opaque manufacturing. It’s a commitment to “limited-run collections” that inherently values quality over quantity, craftsmanship over speed.
Credits: Micky Vice and Gaby Bianco Studio
The retrospective presentation was the evening’s heartbeat. As models glided through the space, the narrative of Shan’s design language came into focus: a refinement of silhouette rather than radical reinvention, a masterful use of color that feels both of-the-moment and timeless, and an unwavering focus on tactility. You could see the throughline—the way a shoulder is cut, the drape of a fabric, the strategic placement of a seam—connecting a piece from 1995 to one from the just-launched Cruise 2026 collection.
That new collection, displayed alongside the archives, proved the point. It featured the sculptural swimwear and elegant cover-ups the brand is known for, but also rich burgundy mesh and pristine white silks that whispered of evening soirees. It was a demonstration of Shan’s core proposition: versatile luxury designed for a life in motion, from a beach cabana to a cosmopolitan dinner.
The presence of supermodel Chanel Iman, a longtime friend of the brand, alongside editors and loyal clients, added a layer of authentic celebration. This wasn’t just a launch; it was a reunion. Interactive touches—live embroidery by Miami Social Stitch, and a photo booth capturing the glittering night—felt personal, a thank you to a community that has sustained this independent house.
As guests departed with curated gift bags (featuring partners like French skincare house Sothys, used to maintain the models’ natural glow), the takeaway was clear. In a world of fast fashion and faster trends, Shan’s 40-year journey is a testament to a different path. It’s a path built on familial stewardship, geographical integrity (with flagships in Miami Beach, Palm Beach, and East Hampton), and a quiet confidence that comes from knowing your craft.
Shan hasn’t just survived four decades in a fickle industry; it has cultivated a specific, sophisticated sensibility. It proves that true luxury isn’t about loud logos, but about the whisper of exquisite fabric, the perfect fit achieved through generations of knowledge, and the rare comfort of clothes designed not just for a season, but for a lifetime of ease. The retrospective wasn’t a look back at an ending, but a graceful affirmation of a philosophy that is more relevant now than ever.
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