Iris Van Herpen Fall 2019 Couture. Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
To suggest there have been disruptions to the once immutable foundations of an otherwise predictable fashion calendar over the last few months would be somewhat of an understatement. Rife with restrictions, the coronavirus pandemic has forced both, fashion designers and fashion week organizers alike, into having to rethink their offering; making for erratic and largely uncertain shifts within the industry. While some parties, such as London Fashion Week, have adapted to the changes within the context of rescheduling shows or going online, others, such as Gucci, have reframed their creative manifesto to forego Fashion Weeks altogether.
With a busy calendar of rescheduled shows and events coming up, here is our guide of what to look out for.
July 5
In advance of the now rescheduled Paris men’s fashion week, French Maison, Hermès will livestream a virtual showcase affiliated with its Spring 2021 collection. Scheduled to go live at 4pm UAE time/3pm KSA time, the presentation will be hosted on the brand’s website.
July 6
British couture house Ralph & Russo, as well as Lebanese couturier Georges Hobeika will be presenting their Fall-Winter 20/21 collections in digital presentations on their respective platforms. Watch the Ralph & Russo digital couture collection here at 7pm UAE time/6pm KSA time and the Georges Hobeika digital show at the label’s Instagram account.
July 6–8
Going virtual for the first time since it’s conception in the late 20th century, Paris Couture Week will take place this July on a dedicated digital platform. Featuring videos and additional content from a number of esteemed designers, the three day event will begin with presentations by Le Schiaparelli, Iris Van Herpen, Christian Dior, Giambattista Valli, and Azzaro. Followed by Chanel and Ronald van der Kemp on day two; Maison Margiela, Guo Pei, Bouchra Jarrar, and Viktor & Rolf will close out the event on day three.
July 9–13
Transitioning to a video-only format this season, presentations for Men’s Fashion Week will be hosted on one central platform. Separated by time slots that resemble the flow of an in-person event, the event will feature back-to-back streams allowing for virtual attendees to engage with the content at their own pace.
July 14–17
A digital iteration of Milan Fashion Week will also grace July’s fashion calendar this season. Showcasing men’s and women’s collections, the format will also include panel discussions on social media, virtual show-room appointments, and a number of special features, including Etro’s coed catwalk staged at the Four Seasons Hotel and Prada’s virtual capacity show.
August 9–12
Held bi-annually in celebration of the finest Scandinavian design, Copenhagen Fashion Week will take place five days after it was originally scheduled. Arguably better positioned to some of its peers, the show is scheduled to go ahead as planned. Noting that all activities will meet regulatory requirements, Cecille Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion said in a statement, “We’re fortunate that the Danish society is opening up much more quickly than expected, making it possible for us to hold Copenhagen Fashion Week very close to the originally scheduled dates.”
August 26–28
Having already canceled its last two seasons over sustainability concerns and financial issues, Stockholm has reinstated its Fashion Week pursuits through the lens of a digital event. Scheduled to take place in August, the virtual event will cater to members of the press and public with pre-recorded presentations and live interviews.
September 2020
Currently scheduled to host the first round of in-person events this year, September will see runways make a reappearance, first in Paris, as confirmed by La Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode and followed tentatively by Milan, should they receive the required approvals to go ahead.
Meanwhile across the Atlantic, while designers Collina Strada and Proenza Schouler are said to be foregoing New York Fashion Week altogether, New York designer Kerby Jean-Raymond aims to host a drive-in fashion experience to showcase his new film, American.
January 2021
Having announced his decision to forego July’s digital couture week, Giorgio Armani will instead host his seasonless Privé show at the Palazzo Orsini in Rome next January. Following suit, Chitose Abe of Sacai will debut her first collection for Jean Paul Gaultier, who has also foregone a presentation thus far. American designer Virgil Abloh will also take the stage in January, although his decision will likely mean an adherence to the see-now, buy-now calendar, with the collection being available for sale in February.
The esteemed Pitti Immagine Uomo, having originally postponed its spring fashion week from June to September, has decided to defer all physical events to January 2021. A digital platform titled Pitti Connect centered around enhancing exhibitor connectivity will launch in July.
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