Ziad Nakad "Birds of Love" at Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture SS21

All Photos: Greg Alexander

The Birds of Paradise collection by the Lebanese designer Ziad Nakad landed at the lavish Château de Vaux-Le-Vicomte, the largest private estate listed as a Historic Monument in France, 50 kilometers southeast of Paris.  Here are the amazing gowns in opulent settings captured by photographer Greg Alexander.

In Zian's own words: Fly away from Beirut, bruised by recent events, longing for escape, for dreams, for travel.

Ziad wanted this collection sexy, slightly frivolous , in order to regain the carefree life of yesterday. 

The dresses are majestic, transparent, airy, the ostrich feathers mingle with silk and lace. 

All pieces are entirely hand-embroidered in the designer's atelier; the lockdown has given designer the time to do his magic…for example the wedding dress that required 3 months of work, or 3 months of escape ...

All photos by Greg Alexander.

China's Shanghai Fashion Week faces delay, while Tom Dixon opens Shanghai flagship.

Just heard through the grapevine that Shanghai Fashion Week may have to be postponed from March to mid April, amidst concerns posted by a growing rise of coronavirus infections in China.  Organisers have not yet made any announcement but there have been reports that brands are pulling out of trade fair events due to ongoing travel restrictions and rising Covid cases.

In ten days time or so, Chinese New Year will be “celebrated” in China and in Chinese communities around the world, but this lunar new year, which will be the year of the Ox, will see traditional celebrations curtailed and may have to be more low-key, and possibly going digital. Curbs on travel this year to try and stop the spread of the coronavirus mean many people won’t be able to return to their hometowns. That will limit spending on travel, restaurants and gifts. 

China’s efforts to control the recent resurgence of Covid-19 are undercutting a recovery which has been one of the bright spots in the global economy.  According to Bloomberg news,  the first official data for China in January showed economic activity expanded at a much slower pace compared to December, with the services sector markedly weaker. The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell to 51.3, while the non-manufacturing gauge dropped to 52.4 from 55.7 in December, according to data released Sunday by the National Bureau of Statistics.

Meanwhile British interior and lifestyle product designer brand Tom Dixon has just announced the opening of its Shanghai flagship store, showing the maison’s continued confidence in the Asian market as it will be its third retail hub in China, following the opening of the Hangzhou store in December 2019 and the Beijing Sanlitun Bottle Concept store in September 2020. Tom Dixon Studio’s mobile, modular display system OCTAGON has also been on exhibition in China, travelling from Chengdu to Shanghai and ending in Beijing. OCTAGON represents the multifaceted nature of the brand, and is a compact structure showcasing the diverse architectural spaces and products of Tom Dixon Studio. OCTAGON is currently exhibiting at Beijing Wangfu Central Plaza until 28th February 2021.

The latest Hub is in Xintiandi, a cosmopolitan luxury design, fashion and hospitality destination in the centre of Shanghai, a stone’s throw from luxury properties, on XinTianDi Style I, Ground floor, No.123-6 Xinye Road.

The main entrance and exterior of Tom Dixon flagship store in Shanghai, China features these prominent double wooden doors and geometric wooden patterning on the windows.  Photos from Tom Dixon.

Tom Dixon Studio’s CEO, Hans Hoegstedt says: "China is one of our most important markets. We searched for 2 years for this location with the intention to support China’s design community. Our Shanghai hub is designed to be a place where our customers can fully experience Tom’s extraordinary products."

According to Tom Dixon. the flagship sits within a traditional Chinese building and is surrounded by Shikumen architecture. Shikumen, which translates to 'ancient stone gate', is a Shanghainese architectural style which blends traditional Chinese architecture and social behaviour with elements of Western design.  

The Hub has a minimalist, clean and industrial interior. The open-plan layout references the Shkiumen organisation of spaces, with rooms arranged around a Central Hall and Courtyard. There are several massive blocks of quarried solid stone in the centre, acting as podium for accessories.  The Shanghai Hub pays homage to many of the brand's hero products, such as FAT, SPRING and WINGBACK, as well as pendant lighting systems of MELT, MIRROR BALL, BEAT and BIRD Chaise. It also displays a selection of their latest collections.

To explore the new store, go on to the Tom Dixon website.

London Fashion Week February 2021 Provisional Schedule Announced

The London Fashion Week February 2021 provisional schedule is now live. The digital event runs from 19th - 23rd February on londonfashionweek.co.uk, bringing together menswear and womenswear into one showcase.

London Fashion Week will celebrate design and creativity of 94 designers including: Belstaff, dunhill, Emilia Wickstead, Edward Crutchley, Marques’Almeida, Molly Goddard, palmer//harding, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, QASIMI, ROKSANDA, Simone Rocha, Temperley London, Tiger of Sweden and Victoria Beckham.

Explore the newly released schedule, designer profiles and add the events to your calendar now on the London Fashion Week website.

Fashion Scount presents WAUZINE 002

Three limited-edition digital publications featuring 11 emerging designers from Kenya, bringing together cross-cultural collaborations between writers, illustrators and creative teams in both London and Nairobi.

Following the success of the Neighbourhood issue which was shot by Maganga Mwagogo, the second of the three issues, titled Joy and Rebellion, explores Nairobi’s city centre, through a fashion story by the fast-rising Kenyan photographer; Sarah Waisawa - showcasing the bold and powerful work of Fashion Scount's designers, alongside an in-depth essay by Abigail Arunga who takes readers through the essence of Nairobi’s Central Business District.

WAUZINE, which derives from ‘Wau’ a Nairobian for ‘Wow’ is designed and created by the team behind Fashion Scout; with Helen Jennings, Co-founder and Editorial Director of Nataal Media as Features Editor, which showcases exclusive photoshoots under the creative direction of Sunny Dolat, Fashion Curator and Co-founder of The Nest Collective. 

Through Sunny’s conceptual eye, the work in issue two joins thousands of other stories and love letters by defiant Nairobians to their city, as part of an overarching super-narrative of joy, mischief and rebellion. 

As the UK partner of the British Council’s year-long Creative DNA programme, Fashion Scout is spearheading this online platform in order to showcase the designers to a global audience whilst celebrating a diverse variety of voices and creativity.

Creative DNA programme supported by the British Council is focused on promoting alternative and innovative approaches to the global fashion system with the ambition of demonstrating that the fashion sector in Kenya is a professional choice for young people and a valuable contributor to the creative economy.

Gunther Autumn 2021 goes Sleepless in Tokyo?

NO SLEEP IN TOKYO to be precise is the fashion film of GUNTHER’s Fall-Winter 2021 collection, directed by Anthelme Dubois, on an original music by NEUF Artist Lab.

Watch No Sleep in Tokyo AW 21 video, click HERE. 

Here's is their description of the video:

For one night in Tokyo, a young man who struggles to find sleep switches to an alternative reality. During his journey in a chimerical Tokyo, he meets various characters who take him on an extraordinary adventure.  With psychedelic projections, a night ride in a Takushi, and the appearance of giants in the Kaiju style, the film includes a series of playlets that refer to ancient and modern Tokyo culture.

H&M Studio to join Copenhagen Fashion Week on 2nd February

Copenhagen Fashion Week announces that H&M Studio will be joining the digital edition for this season, showing their direct-to-consumer SS21 collection. 

Created by an in-house design team at H&M’s Stockholm atelier, H&M Studio's you digital runway presentation of SS21 looks will give an insider look into the design team’s process.

H&M Studio will be showing a digital presentation as part of the official schedule of Copenhagen Fashion Week at 14:00 CET on Tuesday 2nd February 2021.

"We are happy that H&M have chosen to show their H&M Studio SS21 collection in Copenhagen as it continues to emphasise the importance of Copenhagen Fashion Week as a key global fashion week, for both its showcase of the leading Nordic brands and its dedicated focus on positive change in the fashion industry," says Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO Copenhagen Fashion Week.

The H&M Studio SS21 showcase will go live on the official Copenhagen Fashion Week show schedule, visible HERE.  

Copenhagen Fashion Week takes place digitally next week 2-4 February.

Among the brands on show will be Day Birger et Mikkelsen presenting their AW21 collection.

 

Gender-neutral digital London Fashion Week February 19 - 23

Burberry's SS2021 finale was
streamed online.

The first digital edition of  London Fashion Week will take place from Friday 19th to Tuesday 23rd February 2021 showcasing both menswear and womenswear. 

The platform will continue to serve as the Official Digital Hub and will be freely accessible to everyone, industry professionals and global fashion consumers alike, enabling collaboration and bringing together fashion, culture and technology.

The February 2021 provisional schedule is now live, on londonfashionweek.co.uk.  It will celebrate design and creativity of 94 designers including: Belstaff, dunhill, Emilia Wickstead, Edward Crutchley, Marques’Almeida, Molly Goddard, palmer//harding, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, QASIMI, ROKSANDA, Simone Rocha, Temperley London, Tiger of Sweden and Victoria Beckham.

As the British Fashion Council and London Fashion Week stated they will continue to look at the future and the opportunity to change, collaborate and innovate, all of London’s Fashion Weeks will be open to all genders and seasons. The next autumn event will be in September (17th- 21st).

To explore the LFW February 2021 line up of show schedule, click HERE.

Since its inception in 1983 the British Fashion Council (BFC) has been promoting British fashion home and internationally and co-ordinate its efforts through fashion weeks, exhibitions and showcasing events. The BFC now supports designers beginning at college level and extending to talent identification, business support and special schemes.

Bridgerton stars sport regency outfits by British up-and-coming designers

A recent project saw a partnership with Netflix inspired by the highly acclaimed Original Series Bridgerton,  commissioning three young scholars to create regency garments.

The period drama, starring Phoebe Dynevor as the eldest daughter of the powerful Bridgerton family and debutante of Regency London’s marriage market, has been widely acclaimed for its costumes by designer Ellen Mirojnick.

The BFC Scholars Aurélie Fontan, Edward Mendoza and Shanti Bell, were mentored by Designer Richard Quinn to create fabulous period costumes worthy of modern-day gossip columns. The final designs were modelled by the stars of the serie: Phoebe Dynevor, Nicola Coughlan, Claudia Jessie, Adjoa Andoh and Golda Rosheuvel and photographed by Amber Pinkerton.

Gemma Juviler, Commercial Director, British Fashion Council said: “This year has been one of the hardest for the British fashion industry. 

“This collaboration with Netflix illustrates the vital position fashion plays in television, the actors' characters were brought to life by our scholars’ beautifully designed looks for the campaign shoot. 

“Richard Quinn, awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design in 2018, has also played an instrumental part in mentoring the scholars during the design process – demonstrating the power of BFC’s network and the importance of education in this partnership.” 

Tom Van Der Borght live-streamed impactful show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Berlin

Stuck indoors and suffering from zoom fatigue?  

We all need some positive inspiration during these unusual times and that’s what the Belgian designer Tom Van der Borght, 42, has given us - in the form of a dramatic live-streamed show with a difference featuring colourful, fanciful hand-crafted details on tribal silhouettes at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Berlin.

This Autumn/Winter 2021 menswear presentation held on 18th January was entitled “Seven Ways To Be TVDB / Act 3: A Hopeful Parade” encompassing 21 ensembles including 14 new looks as well as 7 reworked looks from Tom's “7 ways to be TVDB" presentation last autumn in the 35th Hyères Festival 2020, in which he won the Première Vision Grand Jury Prize in the fashion category and the City of Hyéres Public Prize, held in October 2020 in Villa Noailles, the cultural and art center of Hyères in the French Riviera.

In the Berlin catwalk performance this month, Tom continues to develop his powerful message through colourful, impactful and creative silhouettes, combining once again High-Tech Bricolage and haute couture savoir faire.  

Staged in collaoration with French-Spanish dancer, choreographer and director Blanca Li, Tom's audience-free show took place in a former power station (also known as "Kraftwerk")

The models moved along the catwalk as if taking part in a procession. They were met by a group of performers, who took on a variety of forms - from workers with the face of the designer to muscular, fantastical-looking figures of horses. 

The climax of the show reflects Tom Van der Borght's artistic vision of an inclusive universe.

"The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin always means the "next step" for Hyeres festival winners and I'm very excited and happy to take part. I cannot wait to share my larger collection with the audience. 

"Especially in these times, I think it's important to share an artistic vision of hope and non-conformity. For me, limitations are always the best opportunities for creativity, so I also consider the concept of a digital performance as a great chance to show fashion in a different way and context. I really love that, thanks to the livestream, everybody will be able to watch the show, and not just invited people, like it would be under regular circumstances. I believe in my progressive vision and that my message of hope and loving yourself will come across strongly", commented Tom Van der Borght.

Slipper testers wanted, says Bedroom Athletics

Slipper testers wanted by Bedroom Athletics

In September 2020 Welsh brand for slipper, loungewear and soft furnishings Bedroom Athletics surveyed 2000 adults* about their home office habits and discovered that 86 per cent of respondents enjoyed no longer having to wear shoes on work time.  The * Study was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Bedroom Athletics.

Now Bedroom Athletics is recruiting for two new slipper testers to join its team to test not only slippers but cosy dressing gowns, throws and cushions. For this role you won’t even need to leave the comfort of your own home, as the successful candidates are treated to a range of slippers, dressing gowns, cushions and throws to road test for style, performance, warmth and wear and tear.  For more information, click HERE.

Mintel Announces Seven Global Consumer Trends for 2021

We are indeed living in extraordinary times.  Our daily lives have been vastly restricted by the pandemic, causing unprecedented adjustments to our lifestyle, our behaviour and spending habits.

Now Mintel, the experts in what consumers want and why, has announced seven trends set to impact global consumer markets in 2021, including analysis, insights, and recommendations centred around consumer behaviour, market shifts, innovative brands, and opportunities for companies and brands to act on in the next 12 months:

Health Undefined: An awareness of wellbeing is at the forefront of consumers' minds, but a playbook doesn't exist. Brands have a responsibility and opportunity to set new rules.

Collective Empowerment: Consumers around the world are making their voices heard loud and clear in the push for equity, agency, and rights.

Priority Shift: Consumers are seeking a return to the essentials, with a focus on flexible possessions and a reframing of what ownership actually means.

Coming Together: Consumers are coming together in like-minded communities in order to connect with and support each other, driven by the impact of the global pandemic.

Virtual Lives: Physical separation due to the pandemic, increased need for escapism, and improved technology are driving consumers towards digital experiences.

Sustainable Spaces: COVID-19 has subtly but significantly shifted consumer awareness of our relationship with the spaces in which we live, accelerating demand for sustainability.

Digital Dilemmas: While there are many benefits to a more digitally-connected life, concerns about its negative impacts are putting consumers in a predicament.

“Consumers are in search of a wellbeing experience through an entirely new lens built around a sense of uncertainty as to when life will shift to more balanced routines. This is driving demand for comfort and structure.

“As brands aim to set a new tone and new structures, the opportunity for brands exists in not simply selling a wellbeing product or service to consumers, but also reminding them of the value in their own internal curiosity and the power of trying something new.”

Simon Moriarty, Director of Mintel Trends, EMEA, comments on how the trends were developed, as well as how they will impact markets, brands, and consumers in 2021:

“As experts in what consumers want and why, Mintel is uniquely suited to predict the future of consumer behaviour and what that means for brands. Last year, we released our 2030 Global Consumer Trends, developed as a living, growing prediction model that will adapt with the unforeseen. The model supports the fluid acceleration or deceleration of the trends according to the reality of individual markets, allowing us to not only be more adaptive and reactive to change but to continue to allow us and our clients to focus on the futures we (humanity) want to invent—or avoid.

“Our new 2021 forecasts remain embedded within our system of Mintel’s 7 Trend Drivers and their supporting pillars. They also take into account the changes that have been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic—the subtle yet profound shifts in consumer thinking and responses from brands—and attempt to encapsulate the better future that consumers, globally, aspire to, and towards which brands can build their own strategic visions.”

The following are what Mintel's Moriarty has to say about the individual trend:-

Health Undefined

“Consumers are in search of a wellbeing experience through an entirely new lens built around a sense of uncertainty as to when life will shift to more balanced routines. This is driving demand for comfort and structure.

“As brands aim to set a new tone and new structures, the opportunity for brands exists in not simply selling a wellbeing product or service to consumers, but also reminding them of the value in their own internal curiosity and the power of trying something new.”

Collective Empowerment

“The collective mentality of the pandemic motivated a community-focused consumer mindset – even in traditionally individualistic cultures – that has put mutual support and advocacy at the forefront of various consumer behaviours. The rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and the Global Climate Strike show how people are gathering to clamour for positive change.

“There is an opportunity for brands to take a lead in addressing these issues, and they may risk being seen as a hindrance if they fail to do so.”

Priority Shift

“As consumers are either facing economic uncertainty and/or a mix of contradictory feelings of vulnerability and resilience, they are taking a step back and embracing a scarcity mindset that makes them monitor more closely their spending and avoid excess consumption. In this search for things that matter to them, consumers are seeking not just affordability and convenience, but also safety, protection, and durability of goods.

“Brands should take advantage of this opportunity to become agents of positive change and to prove that they offer good value and tangible results.”

Coming Together

“COVID-19 revitalised the concept of community, with consumers craving human connection and interactions more than ever. With large numbers of the world's population forced to stay indoors and observe social distancing measures, this highlighted the importance of unity as a means of supporting one another.

“A widespread understanding that community and belonging are critical to combat loneliness offers brands the chance to celebrate consumer identities and offer novel ways to support each other.”

Virtual Lives

“The impact of the pandemic and continued innovation in technology has meant that experiences continue to change and the role digital entertainment plays in fostering positivity and connecting people is of particular importance.

“The fast-growing popularity of gaming and esports offers opportunities for brands from multiple markets, either via collaborations to create collectible in-game items, by creating their own games, or pairing products to go with gaming sessions.”

Sustainable Spaces

“With access to more information than ever before, consumers are demanding greater transparency from the brands they buy from, including how brands plan to tackle sustainability challenges.

“As consumers increasingly appreciate the complexity of the issues the world faces, brands have an opportunity to proactively innovate products and services that help them deal with the cumulative impact of everyday living—from a focus on localism and supporting communities to nudging consumers towards incrementally better habits that combine to great effect.”

Digital Dilemmas

“Technology has played a massive role in offering solutions that provide peace of mind in uncertain times. While technology is meant to improve life, it is worth taking a step back to assess how consumers feel about the technology with which they surround themselves.

“eCommerce and online transactions have the potential to become, and remain, the norm. Thus brands are encouraged to innovate digital capabilities in anticipation of consumers' needs and, crucially, to expertly bridge the gap between the online and offline worlds to offer a more reliable and consistent experience.”

For access to the free 2021 Global Consumer Trends for consumer insight, market expertise, and strategic recommendations to drive better business decisions, click HERE.

Paris Men’s Fashion Week and Haute Couture Week go digital this January

Paris Men’s Fashion Week and Haute Couture Week will still proceed this January but all shows and presentations will be held online only without live audiences, according to the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, due to Covid-19 restrictios in France and public gatherings are prohibited.

Although fashion houses and brands can still organise meetings as well as live shows with models, these are to be done behind closed doors, under strict coronavirus guidelines, including only a limited number of people can be present at the same time in any given space.

Paris Men’s Fashion Week runs from January 19 to 24 and reportedly the provisional calendar at the moment includes Louis Vuitton, Rick Owens, Issey Miyake, Dries Van Noten, Dior Homme, Paul Smith, Wales Bonner, Hermes, Vetements, Jil Sander, Thom Browne and Celine.

Haute Couture Week is running from January 25 to 27, with the provisional schedule opening on the Monday with Schiaparelli, Iris Van Herpen, Christian Dior and Giambattista Valli.  Following on the Tuesday will be Chanel, Stéphane Rolland, Alexandre Vauthier, Giorgio Armani Privé and Valentino. The third day will feature Maison Margiela, Elie Saab, Viktor and Rolf, Zuhair Murad.

Challenges posted by the current coronavirus has forced Jean-Paul Gaultier to postpone its one-off couture collection by Sacai’s Chitose Abe, and the London-based couture and ready-to-wear label Ralph and Russo has cancelled its presentation.

Kim Jones will make his womenswear debut for Fendi Couture on January 27 with a show that will be livestreamed on the Italian brand’s website and social media channels. Jones who was appointed as artistic director of haute couture, ready-to-wear and fur collections for women at Fendi in September is making his womenswear debut at Haute Couture Week.

Alber Elbaz is returning as an invited guest member of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode with his joint venture with Richemont, AZ Factory. Elbaz’s new luxury label will present its first products on January 26.

Other newcomers to the schedule include 24-year-old Charles de Vilmorin on January 27,  and S.R.Studio.LA.CA. by Sterling Ruby on January 28.

It is time to discover BOUTET fashion film

Paris-based design studio under designer Coco Boutet has launched a new film to illustraste the mood of her new collection.  The fashion film, directed by Jose Maria Solanes, is entitled “TABULA RASA”.

BOUTET is referred to as brand using Italian fabric and
French leather made in European tradition.

Coco Boutet started as a designer for Louis Vuitton and Céline, and now “imagines a minimal luxury for an everyday silhouette. A nonchalance inspired by a desert, minerals, traces left by a lost civilization, land art, and Brutalist’s architecture.”

The collection "Boca" started with shape, texture, wrinkles, the flexibility of the mouth, according to the studio, adding that this collection also has references to British artist Francis Bacon who was interested in that part of the face. 

Eames Fine Art reflects on their Highlights of 2020

Due to the different lockdowns and restrictions in the past 10 months or so, galleries and museums have not been able to stage events and open exhibitions for visitors.  Like many, digital online shows  have become the norm.  

Photo from Eames Fine Art, Bermondsey, London, showing The Print Room.

Eames Fine Art in Bermondsey, London is the same and has hosted a varied programme of exhibitions.  It even opened a new gallery, The Print Room, and reported hosting more shows in 2020 than in any other previous year.

While the gallery is thankful that many people continued to support them and the artists they represent, by buying work online or visiting the gallery when possible, they also realised that many of their favourite works from 2020 are still available, 

So as a way to thank their supporters, Eames Fine Art is offering 10% off any of these favourite works if they are purchased before the end of January.  To view these works, go to their website (click HERE) to read “Highlights of 2020”.

Each of the gallery's team member has chosen a work that they love that was produced or exhibited in 2020 by an Eames Fine Art artist. These choices show that even with its myriad challenges, 2020 was an exciting year for exhibitions and innovation at the gallery. 

With the pandemic still rampant and not under control in the UK, physical shows are not likely to take place anytime soon.  Online events will continue to be important for artists and galleries to showcase recent works, and will rely on art lovers for their continued support whenever possible.

Top Drawer On Demand is returning this January 2021 for the S/S 21 edition

The online edition of the Top Drawer London trade fair returns this month for five days of live content for the 2021 buying season, kicking off on January 25th until 29th, bringing digitally new products from a selection of design-led brands, as well as a programme of talks on the latest trends for the new season and web-presentation of industry developments.  Top Drawer On Demand covers a wide variety of lifestyle prodcts, spanning home, toys and games, craft, fashion, stationery, well-being, food and drink.

Meanwhile, Top Drawer has uploaded on its website webinar contents from the last edition including sessions with Not On The Highstreet's Holly Tucker, designer and author, Sophie Conran and industry icon and interior designer, Kelly Hoppen. To catch up on the full list of talks click HERE.  

Maison & Objet Paris will be next held in September 2021.

The organisers to Maison & Objet Paris have announced that the next edition of the trade fair will take place from 9th to 13th September 2021, in conjunction with Paris Design Week, while its March 2021 event has now been cancelled due to the continuing restrictions posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the September event, Maison&Objet Paris will enhance its programming with a focus on the Work! and Projects sectors, say the organisers in a statement.  Work! is dedicataed to innovations for workspaces and the office, having seen major shifts in terms of design over the past few months. At a time when living spaces are continually redefining themselves, specifiers and interior designers will also discover Projects, an exclusive offer of materials and creative technical solutions for optimising hospitality, commercial, and residential spaces.

They announced that the teams at Maison&Objet are working hard to offer a new experience, using digital tools that allow attendees to optimally prepare for their visit to the show, and keep it going over time, based on what they’ve learned from the digital events recently organised on MOM (Maison&Objet and More).  The 8 thematic Digital Days will be held every week from 27th January through 19th March 2021, every Wednesday through Friday. 

European shows are rescheduled, cancelled or staged digitally

While it may seem optimistic or ambitious even to announce or organise 2021 trade shows in the current pandemic climate, trade event organisers recognise the continued importance of such professional events for business developments of the various sectors.  When physical shows are not possible, digital events take their place.

Paris Men’s Fashion Week and Haute Couture Week will still proceed this January but all shows and presentations will be held online only without live audiences, according to the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, due to Covid-19 restrictios in France and public gatherings are prohibited.

Although fashion houses and brands can still organise meetings as well as live shows with models, these are to be done behind closed doors, under strict coronavirus guidelines, including only a limited number of people can be present at the same time in any given space.

Paris Men’s Fashion Week runs from January 19 to 24 and reportedly the provisional calendar at the moment includes Louis Vuitton, Rick Owens, Issey Miyake, Dries Van Noten, Dior Homme, Paul Smith, Wales Bonner, Hermes, Vetements, Jil Sander, Thom Browne and Celine.

Haute Couture Week is running from January 25 to 27, with the provisional schedule opening on the Monday with Schiaparelli, Iris Van Herpen, Christian Dior and Giambattista Valli.  Following on the Tuesday will be Chanel, Stéphane Rolland, Alexandre Vauthier, Giorgio Armani Privé and Valentino. The third day will feature Maison Margiela, Elie Saab, Viktor and Rolf, Zuhair Murad, and Jean Paul Gaultier.

International audiences can access the shows on the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode’s online platform at www.fhcm.paris.  

In Italy the winter editions of the Pitti Immagine Uomo and Pitti Immagine Bimbo respectively leading menswear and childrenswear trade shows, along side knitwear show Filati, all originally scheduled to take place in January, have now been pushed back to 21-23 February due to Covid-19. Organisers say the events based in Florence will encompass three extraordinary days of special events, installations and live digital features.

Also in February 2021, Copenhagen Fashion Week will be a fully digital edition while other related trade shows such as Revolver and CIFF have been cancelled thanks to restrictions of going development of Covid-19. This February digital show will allow brands to present their seasonal collections to an  international audience, between 2-4 February 2021 via Copenhagen Fashion Week's new digital platform on www.copenhagenfashionweek.com, which will be launched on 14 January. The show schedule has already been published and the talks program will be announced in mid-January.

Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week says they hope the physical shows will return in August 2021.

Meanwhile in Paris, while Messe Frankfurt France recently announed the cancellation of their February 2021 textile trade shows, they are offering an alternative solution to the international industry fashion players with a new event from February 1 to 5 at the Atelier Richelieu, in the heart of Paris.

Texworld Evolution Paris - Le Showroom will allow buyers and designers to explore offers from a selected number of exhibitors from the sister events of Apparel Sourcing, Avantex, Leatherworld and Texworld Paris.

Upon invitation at the time slot of their choice, visitors will have direct access, in optimal conditions of comfort and security, to the textile and clothing collections arranged around two main areas:

• A Trend Forum imagined by the artistic directors of Texworld Evolution Paris, Louis Gérin and Grégory Lamaud, will offer to the buyers a creative inspiration book elaborated around a selection of textile and clothing samples that will become the fashion of spring-summer 2022.

• A Library will unveil, by categories, a precise selection of several thousands of fabrics samples and finished goods to be discovered in specially designed areas that will facilitate the professionals' journey.

Upon arrival at the showroom, buyers will be provided with a digital tool specifically developed to facilitate direct contact with manufacturers for expressing interest, requesting samples or quotations. Le Showroom is therefore an innovative response to ensure that this essential connection between the international garment industry and textile and clothing buyers is maintained, and to prepare for the July 2021 trade shows.

“Le Showroom is the first international professional textile event to be held in Paris within a year and offers a new way of organizing fashion sourcing, explains Frédéric Bougeard, President of Messe Frankfurt France. 

Also the international Première Vision Paris show for all sectors of the textile and materials industry will be holding a digital show for its February edition, presaging the continued health constraints on a global scale.

The PV Paris digital show will run from February 15 to 19, with the introduction of new services for the industry thus refleting the marked acceleration of the group's digitization. Première Vision will also be bringing online its new website, to be rolled out in several stages over the coming year, which will bring together all its trade shows and its own Marketplace platform.

Throughout the last few months, Première Vision has been engaged in supporting the international fashion industry as it faces the difficult challenges posed by the Covid-19 health crisis, introducing new and innovative e-commerce features to its Marketplace, and speeding the development of its digital system.

The organisers announced their December 2020 Digital Denim Week (held from November 30th to December 4th in lieu of Denim Première Vision) was successfully launched, allowing some 4,661 industry professionals (the number of unique visitors) to participate and build their denim collections for Spring-Summer 22. These included international buyers from the world's most creative fashion companies - fashion and luxury brands, pure players in jeanswear, web players, etc.

In comparison, the December 2019, Denim Première Vision held in London show, which was a physical event, welcomed nearly 2,000 visitors, they reported.