Paris Men’s, Haute Couture Fashion Weeks Canceled Due To COVID-19

Above photo: Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall 2020 show

PARIS, FRANCE — French fashion’s governing body, the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode has cancelled upcoming men’s and haute couture fashion weeks, due to the worldwide spread of the coronavirus.

“In light of the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic worldwide, strong decisions are required to ensure the safety and health of Houses, their employees and everyone working in our industry,” the Federation said in a statement Friday.

Men’s fashion week was scheduled from June 23 to 28 while the haute couture shows were slated for July 5 to 9.

It was set to be a return for Balenciaga as well as the debut of Jean-Paul Gaultier’s guest designer concept with Sacai.

Balenciaga  said it will postpone its haute couture launch until January 2021.

“We fully support this decision as it is important to contribute to the nationwide efforts aimed at curbing the pandemic,” said the Kering-owned fashion house.

“Today the priority is the health and well-being of all of our partners,” said Ralph Toledano, president of the federation, noting it was an obvious decision to make amid the COVID-19 crisis.

“For the moment we are thinking about protecting our teams and protecting our business, it’s the central subject, but we’re also thinking about what the exit to the crisis will be like and what changes will take place, but it’s not the time to take active decisions and make sudden announcements. We need to reflect on ideas and let them mature and discuss them together,” he added.

Toledano said that the federation’s teams were working around the clock to help answer questions from members—notably young brands.

“We have to support them and help them get through this very, very difficult moment—payments are coming with unacceptable difficulty,” he said.

Pascal Morand, the federation’s executive president, had told WWD several days ago that it was actively working with members on possible alternatives to the shows.

With France on lockdown as authorities battle the coronavirus outbreak, the federation’s priority is informing its members about government aid available to companies as they seek to maintain cash flow, and pay suppliers and staff, the executive said.

Balenciaga’s planned haute couture debut, half a century after the Spanish founder Cristóbal Balenciaga closed his legendary couture house, came as a surprise to the industry. As reported, Cédric Charbit, president and chief executive officer of Balenciaga, had said that Demna Gvasalia’s first haute couture collection would be a “synthesis between the street and the salon.” Gvasalia is known for highly-coveted sneakers, hoodies and bomber jackets both at Balenciaga and at Vetements, the brand he founded with his brother Guram in 2014.

Adding further excitement to couture week, Sacai’s Chitose Abe was scheduled to create the fall couture collection for Jean Paul Gaultier, becoming the first outside designer invited to interpret Gaultier’s expansive label, built over a 50 year span.

Photos Credit: Dominique Maitre for WWD

Source: WWD