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Wednesday, December 23 at 2130
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Wednesday, December 23 at 2030
Thursday, December 24 at 1130
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Monday, December 28 at 0630

Iconic fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld joins this week's Talk Asia from Chanel's global show in Shanghai. Dressed in his trademark black suit, high collar shirt and sunglasses, he gives Anjali Rao exclusive behind-the-scenes access as he shows his pre-fall 2010 collection. The mastermind behind powerhouses Chanel and Fendi also reveals the creative process that inspires his annual métier d'art collection.

A longtime fashion pioneer, Lagerfeld staged the first ever fashion show on the Great Wall in Beijing for Fendi in 2007. This fall he opened the extravagant Chanel flagship store in Shanghai. China is the world's biggest consumer of luxury goods but remains something of an enigma to him: "For me, China is more like some mysterious region. I don't know too much about it...This idea of China, whatever it is, the good ones, the bad ones, the whole thing, it's a mysterious country," says Lagerfeld.

Lagerfeld took over at Chanel in 1983 after the death of its legendary founder Coco. Lagerfeld has since turned it into one of the world's most profitable luxury brands. Now, in his late 70's, he continues to produce eight collections for Chanel and two for Fendi every year. He explains how he stays relevant and inspired: "Because I'm an opportunist. If you think it was better before, you make your presence second-hand. I think it's up to us to look at what's going on, find our niche and our way of living and feeding well in that position."

Despite his enormous success, he points out that he has no interest in the business side of his companies: "I want only the sunny side of life. I don't take care of numbers. I don't take care of business. That's why I never push my labourers especially because it's not an investment company. Because I don't want to be a businessman. I am just a designer and that's enough for me."

Lagerfeld is also well-known for his preference for skinny models. He says that fashion should not be held responsible for the issue of weight: "Too skinny may be unhealthy, but that's not a fashion reason. Most of the people who have that problem have an emotional problem with family or whatever. In France, over 25% of the girls under 25 are overweight, so anorexics are not even 1%. Let's perhaps take care of the fat ones. They have bigger problems and their problem is waiting for them."

Lagerfeld himself famously shed a staggering 42kg in 13 months, more for aesthetic than health reasons: "I did it for clothes, there was no health problem. I was bored by what was going on in the fashion for men, and then there was something I thought it was exciting." He adds: "It would sound nice if I talk about any emotional effect, but no, there was none. I was happy I could wear size 46 and 48 and Dior as simple as that. I'm very superficial. Very informed but very superficial."

Karl Lagerfeld's full interview will be available after the first airing online at www.cnn.com/talkasia.
For more information, please visit www.CNNPressroomAsia.com.

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