Despite the threat of Coronavirus and the cancellation of several shows including those of Agnès b and A.P.C, the Paris Fashion Week also delighted, surprised and fascinated. A look back at the three most striking shows.
By Luxus Plus
- The Apocalyptic Parade of Balenciaga
On Sunday March 1st, there was an end-of-the-world atmosphere at the Cité du Cinéma in Saint-Denis where the Balenciaga show was held. The guests, plunged into total darkness, watched in shock as a succession of men and women marched past, immersed in water up to their ankles. “The idea was to recreate the biblical sensation of walking on water, except that here it was more like walking on oil. A metaphor for a world that seems to be drowning in these post-industrial problems” explains Georgian designer Demna Gvasalia, creative director of Balenciaga. The varied wardrobe included monastic vestments (long clothes reminiscent of those worn by priests) as well as enveloping magistrate’s robes (opulent varnished red capes), to question the stakes of religion on modern societies, but also those of global warming and the disappearance of the planet. A show that reflects our tormented times, which has not been without provoking a feeling of unease, but which has above all pushed our contemporaries towards a form of reflection and wisdom, as the creator says: “post-apocalyptic yes, but also full of hope thanks to the video images of the Earth and its beauty, and the tribal soundtrack at the end of the parade“.
- The visionary parade of Marine Serre
When Marine Serre designed its autumn-winter 2020-2021 collection, it could not foresee the explosion of the coronavirus epidemic. However, the French designer has never been so close to the news on Tuesday, February 25th, when she presented her new collection “Mind Melange Motor” at the Paris Fashion Week. On the catwalk, the models wore protective masks decorated with sequins or full hoods in the spirit of the armor dress. A visionary eye, which also wants to tell the story of ecological disasters, environmental issues, questions about the end of the world or the stakes of the evolution of species and civilizations. “Who can ignore the world we live in? This parade poses the question of the world we are leaving to future generations. The answer lies in our freedom and creativity. We have to push open doors. “said the creator, more in tune than ever with the world and its future.
- Stella McCartney’s Animal Parade
Within the walls of the Palais Garnier last Monday, March 2, animal mascots rubbed shoulders with the crowd of models: a rabbit, a cow, a wolf, a horse and a crocodile a little further away. Orchestrated by Stella McCartney, the autumn-winter 2020-2021 fashion show wanted to advocate for fairer and more responsible fashion in an offbeat and fun way: “I wanted to show the ingredients of other shows” explains the militant designer who hasn’t used any animal leather since her house was founded in 2001. We’re one of the only brands in the world that doesn’t kill animals. I wanted to underline that, but in a fun way. Let the message be digestible! ». For this occasion, each piece was designed using regenerated and traceable materials and shrubs – ready to be replanted and labelled “we absorb the CO2 emitted by the fashion show so that its carbon footprint is totally neutral. Planting this tree is part of the solution” – were even handed out at the end of the show. A fun and effective way to make a commitment to the environment, a characteristic of the pioneer of eco-friendly fashion.
Read more > Fashion Week 2020 in Paris: the most eagerly awaited shows
Featured photo: © Getty Images
