Saint Laurent's Absence From Fashion Week
The economic fallout of the coronavirus has taken its toll on apparel businesses across the globe, and now it has reached its zenith in the very fashion capital itself, Paris.
The economic fallout of the coronavirus has taken its toll on apparel businesses across the globe, and now it has reached its zenith in the very fashion capital itself, Paris. Major fashion labels are withdrawing from Paris Fashion Week—most notably the haute couture juggernaut Saint Laurent. Saint Laurent, the quintessential French brand known for incorporating the Eiffel Tower and other iconography of their home country into their shows, has made the decision to cancel the premiere of their latest collection at Paris Fashion Week.
Being such a prestigious name, Saint Laurent’s yearly releases are typically the most anticipated shows of each Paris Fashion Week. As such, their removal from such a paramount fashion event epitomizes the pandemic’s devastating blow to the industry. Saint Laurent’s artistic director Anthony Vaccarello realizes the long-term effects of the current halt in sales of their products, pointing out that the closing of their worldwide stores and production sites has forced the company to rethink their creation and showcasing of future collections. While the COVID-19 outbreak has upended Saint Laurent’s 2020 schedule, they are determined to remain connected with their audience. Not only did their Instagram post announce their withdrawal from Paris Fashion Week, but it also indicated that the company will present their new releases in an alternative, more inventive way. The post concluded with the following statement: “Saint Laurent will take ownership of its calendar and launch its collections following a plan with an up-to-date perspective, driven by creativity.”
Report: Nia Hunt
At the rise of Covid-19 many of us first questioned the timeline of fashion week and would we see the regular calendar continue - the question weighed over many of us for months! It was refreshing to see design houses and designers across the globe take advantage of the uncertainty and plow into production mode - thus my interest in Jerri Reid New York - The Black Designer based in Brooklyn New York wow’d instagram with his latest collection paying homage to the Black Is King film which debuted earlier this year in July. I was taken aback at quick of a turn round the young designer produced and released his well crafted designs reflecting some of the films most memorable moments.