The origins of Paris Fashion Week can be traced back to the haute couture showcases organized by the fashion designer Charles Frederick Worth. Born in England, Worth moved to Paris at age 21 and founded his own fashion house, the House of Worth, twelve years later. He was the first fashion designer to present new garments to clients on live models rather than mannequins. Soon, other designers followed suit, hosting fashion showcases with live models at their salons.
In 1868, Worth helped found the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, des Confectionneurs et des Tailleurs pour Dames et Fillettes (Trade Association of Dressmakers, Garment Makers, and Tailors for Ladies and Girls), a professional organization for governing the French fashion industry. In 1945, the organization, renamed the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture (Trade Association of Haute Couture), established rules for French haute couture houses. One rule stated that every haute couture house must present a new collection to the press each season. These presentations were the forerunners of Paris Fashion Week.
The first Paris Fashion Week was organized in 1973 to raise funds for the restoration of the Palace of Versailles. It was overseen by American fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, the founder of New York Press Week (the future New York Fashion Week).
The event featured renowned French and American designers, including Bill Blass, Marc Bohan, Stephen Burrows, Pierre Cardin, Hubert de Givenchy, Halston, Anne Klein, Óscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, and Emanuel Ungaro. Due to its venue and the rivalry between the American and French designers, the show was nicknamed “The Battle of Versailles.”
The first Paris Fashion Week showcased haute couture and ready-to-wear fashion for women and men. Over time, it split into three separate events: Paris Men’s Fashion Week, Paris Haute Couture Week, and Paris Fashion Week, which primarily focuses on women’s ready-to-wear fashion.
Today, Paris Fashion Week is recognized as one of the “Big Four” fashion weeks, alongside those in New York, London, and Milan. It is generally considered the most prestigious, a distinction that can be attributed to its long history and the concentration of major luxury houses in Paris. While New York Fashion Week is more commercially oriented, London Fashion Week is known for experimentation, and Milan Fashion Week focuses on craftsmanship, Paris Fashion Week highlights fashion as a cultural and artistic statement.
Like most fashion weeks, Paris Fashion Week is held twice a year. Its events take place at various locations throughout the French capital, including historic buildings, museums and art galleries, brand headquarters, and modern, unconventional venues. Some of the most iconic Paris Fashion Week venues include the Grand Palais (temporarily replaced by the Grand Palais Éphémère during renovations), the Carreau du Temple, and the Beaux-Arts de Paris, to name a few.
Photo: fhcm.paris
