The fashion world is on edge as Paris Haute Couture Week kicks off on Monday. Paris has seen several nights of violent unrest over the police killing of a teenager.
release:
French brand Celine cancels menswear show – Schedule outside the official calendar – On Sunday, designer Hedi Slimane said it would be “inconsiderate” to hold a fashion show in Paris amid “bereaved and injured people” amid the unrest.
Hundreds of people, mostly young protesters, were arrested across the country after 17-year-old Nahel M. was shot dead Tuesday as he tried to flee a traffic stop, mostly young protesters who torched cars and attacked infrastructure .
Violence in and around the French capital appeared to subside over the weekend as haute couture shows – Celebrating the End of the Most Expensive, Tailored Fashions – The French Fashion Federation told AFP on Sunday that the plan would proceed as planned.
First up was Schiaparelli, with fashionistas wondering if it could beat the social media debacle caused by last season’s fake animal heads.
Headshots worn by stars such as Kylie Jenner are another coup for Schiaparelli art director Daniel Roseberry, who oversaw the brand’s makeover and attracted the likes of Lady Gaga and Beyonce as clients .
Animal activists don’t seem to know what to think.
PETA (People for the Ethical Ethical Treatment of Animals) in the US called the heads “amazingly innovative”, while PETA France said silkworms and sheep that “really suffer” should be considered.
saudi money
A notable feature of Paris Fashion Week this season has been Saudi Arabia’s spending spree to build its own fashion industry.
That continued this week when fashion designer Mohammad Ashi became the first Saudi designer to present his eponymous label as part of the official Haute Couture roster.
Several events were held during menswear and fashion week to introduce newcomers from the kingdom, including a cocktail evening at the Ritz on Monday.
Ashi has been a celebrity favorite for some time, styled for the likes of Queen Rania of Jordan, Penelope Cruz and star of the new Indiana Jones movie, Phoebe Waller-Bridge The latter wore one of his creations at the London premiere last week.
Saudi Arabia has been pouring billions of dollars into fashion and everything from movies to football as part of radical social change overseen by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Regulars such as American designer Thom Browne and French designer Charles de Vilmorin and Christian Dior will also make their fashion week debuts.
De Vilmorin, 26, is launching his own label after a brief stint as artistic director of Rochas.
“I’m very happy to have gone through it all and done my first show,” he told AFP in his apartment studio last week while finishing the series.
Fashion designer Stephane Rolland presented his latest collection for legendary singer Maria Callas at the Opéra Garnier.
The film will be shot by veteran French director Claude Lelouch as his next film.
Rowland said merging fashion and other art forms is crucial.
“It’s very important to our profession. I see that sometimes a little improvement is lacking. Money is not everything,” he told AFP.
He welcomed the growing influence of Saudis in the fashion industry, especially Ashi.
“I’m very happy for him,” he said. “There is a talent pool in Saudi Arabia who has been unable to express themselves the way they want for a long time.”
(AFP)