By Stanley Lui

Gabrielle Chanel loved having her hands tucked away in her pockets while at the races, free from holding her binoculars which were strapped to her shoulders. It was this desire to break away from the norm and create easy to use, functional and yet luxurious bags fitted with shoulder straps (like the military bags then) that lead Mademoiselle Chanel to design the famous Chanel 2.55 bag.

Launched in February 1955, the bag was named after the month and the year to which it came to be.

Fifty seven years on, "Les Secrets du Sac", the exhibition dedicated to this icon arrives in Singapore. Located on the 2nd level of the boutique at Ngee Ann City, visitors are instantly greeted by the wall to wall, larger than life reproduction of the diamond-shaped quilting synonymous with the classic Chanel bag.

Famous quotes by Karl Lagerfeld and Mademoiselle Chanel herself are flashed at intervals on strips of digital screen at the walkway as you step into the first room to see the special Disney inspired Chanel bags created by Artist Wim Delvoye which were originally at the Chanel’s Mobile Art exhibition. Along side the the bags by Delvoye, pieces done in collaboration with the American brand Chrome Hearts are also on display.

More notably, two of Mademoiselle Chanel's personal bags in lambskin and the other in jersey and gold hardware are specially flown in for this intimate exhibition.

Visitors would also get to see the new designs in a separate area such as the Boy Chanel bags, the ones from the Cruise 2013 collection and Karl Lagerfeld's more luxurious interpretations with alligator skin. This is then followed by the archival pieces, many of which were famously carried by the hands of Supermodel Claudia Schiffer as illustrated by the floor to ceiling illuminated photo frames.

Finally, like walking into a giant Chanel bag, visitors will get to unzip the secrets to the making of the 2.55 in a mini theater fully furnished with burgundy interior walls complete with the signature giant CC inner quilted logo.

Through the video shown, viewers will get to learn the 7 intricate steps to the making of the Chanel handbag going from the precise cutting and quilting of the leather, the assembly, the turning of the bag, shaping, fitting of the chain and the leather strap to the final packaging where every stage is artfully carried out with skill and great dexterity.

Taking luxury lovers and ardent Chanel fans on a journey like never before to discover the secrets behind the workmanship of the bag as well as it's fabled history, the Chanel Les Secrets du Sac handbag exhibition runs from 10 to 14 November 2012 at the second level of the Ngee Ann City boutique.

Admission is free and open to the public.