This past week, renowned designers from around the world showcased their collections at Paris Fashion Week. With this being the first live, in-person show in a year and a half due to the online shows amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, all eyes were on Paris. If there was ever a time to spread an important message via fashion, this was the opportunity; Myriad designers took advantage, using their platform to make a statement and foster social change.
Some designers sent a pertinent message about climate and ocean preservation. Nini Ricci incorporated, new innovative vegan fabrics in her clean, Ready-to-Wear collection. Stella McCartney’s mushroom-themed collection featured her new Frayme bag made from Mylo, a sustainable, animal-free leather alternative made from mycelium. Looking at the collection presented by Chloé, dresses were knotted together from strips of silk jersey and macraméd from leftover fabric, and sandals featured soles made from upcycled flip-flops recovered from the sea.
Raf Simons challenged gender norms with his clothes made for both men and women, reimagining a business-suit wardrobe with his signature oversized silhouettes. Simons breaks conventional codes of dress with his genderless skirt suits and A-line dresses.
These amazing collections represent the influential change-making present in couture fashion. They show how vital fashion can be in making social change, making it evermore important that the right messages are being conveyed.
This year, the Givenchy collection had a controversial message: the models’ necks were adorned with noose-like necklaces. This is unfortunately not the first of such issues at Paris Fashion Week, as the 2019 Burberry noose hoodie received similar backlash. Suicide is not fashion. Any indication of the idea of suicide as trendy or to be used in such a performative way should not be allowed, especially on such a wide-reaching stage.
Fashion is more than clothes. Designers need to use fashion to impart impactful and pressing messages that push for positive social change.