With mere days to go before the first round of voting in France’s snap elections, a sense of trepidation can be felt ahead of the results. There’s also the Olympics, for which preparations are accelerating, and the ongoing European Football Championship, in which the national team has made it through to the knockout rounds. No surprise then that sport is on fashion designers’ minds.
If there’s one thing that the two industries have in common, it would be providing a sense of escapism and hope. Call it cognitive dissonance, but at a time of great uncertainty, both can offer a welcome distraction to what lies ahead, by enthralling and telling stories of incredible human skill. And when it comes to the craft of clothing, nowhere is it more discernible than during haute couture week in Paris, where ultra-luxury clients — the primary ones spending during the sector’s downturn — gather to see the latest savoir-faire that some of the world’s most prestigious houses have to offer.
For those reasons, couture has never been more vital, says Pascal Morand, executive president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. “It [creates] an atmosphere where creativity can flourish and embodies a positive dynamic for Paris.” The autumn/winter 2024 schedule was light on newcomers and lacked notable regulars such as Fendi and Valentino, which are undergoing a reshuffle in the executive and creative suites, respectively.
But there was plenty to appreciate, starti.
