Against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions, an American fashion designer pursued her own brand of 'catwalk diplomacy' at Moscow Fashion Week. Here's more in our next report.

Moscow Fashion Week 2025: Decoding catwalk diplomacy

When world charming smart courage decided to be a catwalk coach in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, he knew he was up against stereotypes in a country that is largely conservative. But the genetics and bio technology graduate was never deterred from pursuing his dream.

Nigeria | Meet Nigeria's male catwalk coach who is breaking barriers

This year at New York Fashion Week, we saw designers styling not just models but also some little furry friends. As part of a&nbsp;fundraising event for animal welfare organisations, Elysian Impact’s Inaugural CatWalk FurBaby fashion show&nbsp;brought designers, models, and rescue animals together.

10 models graced the runway in gorgeous outfits designed by the likes of Nicole Miller, Brook Wilder, and Victor de Souza among others.

Dr Christina Rahm, who is the CEO of DRC Ventures and also the lead sponsor of the event,&nbsp;has three dogs and a cat. She manages various brands including a couture luxury pet and human fashion line.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The inaugural CatWalk FurBaby fashion show at New York Fashion Week saw dogs hit the catwalk in designer clothes <a href="https://t.co/bAeKvYjUlG">https://t.co/bAeKvYjUlG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYFW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NYFW</a> <a href="https://t.co/7w8hbBMOa4">pic.twitter.com/7w8hbBMOa4</a>
— Reuters (@Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1624329894946643969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"We started thinking... What are we doing for animals? And my husband, Clayton Thomas, his family, we’re veterinarians, so we decided we’ve really got to do something for animals,"&nbsp;Rahm said in a video shared by Reuters.

"I wanted them to look fashionable. So we did a couture line as well," Rahm added.

Meanwhile, the Collina Strada show paid an ode to animals in a menagerie atmosphere. One bewhiskered model "meowed" in front of the delighted audience, followed by a model with a rhinoceros horn and another with a pig snout.

The street-wear touch of the brand is still there, but the colours are less psychedelic, more sober and elegant.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-menswear-designers-debut-new-collections-at-new-york-fashion-week-560890">Menswear designers debut new collections at New York Fashion Week</a>

Those who like theatrical shows will also enjoy&nbsp;a show on Tuesday by Thom Browne, who succeeds Tom Ford as the head of the American fashion union (CFDA).

Among the other headliners are regulars Proenza Schouler, Altuzarra, Coach, Sergio Hudson, Carolina Herrera, Gabriela Hearst and Michael Kors.

But the programme, which ends on Wednesday, again has a notable absence of high-profilers such as Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and previous CFDA lead Tom Ford. Pop icon Rihanna, who has exhibited her lingerie collection Fenty in New York in the past, will instead be performing at the much-watched Super Bowl half-time show on Sunday.

(With inputs from agencies)

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This year at New York Fashion Week, we saw designers styling not just models but also some little furry friends. As part of a fundraising event for animal welfare organisations, Elysian Impact’s Inaugural CatWalk FurBaby fashion show brought designers, models, and rescue animals together.

This year at New York Fashion Week, we saw designers styling not just models but also some little furry friends. As part of a fundraising event for animal welfare organisations, Elysian Impact’s Inaugural CatWalk FurBaby fashion show brought designers, models, and rescue animals together. 10 models graced the runway in gorgeous outfits designed by the likes of Nicole Miller, Brook Wilder, and Victor de Souza among others. Dr Christina Rahm, who is the CEO of DRC Ventures and also the lead sponsor of the event, has three dogs and a cat. She manages various brands including a couture luxury pet and human fashion line. The inaugural CatWalk FurBaby fashion show at New York Fashion Week saw dogs hit the catwalk in designer clothes https://t.co/bAeKvYjUlG #NYFW pic.twitter.com/7w8hbBMOa4 — Reuters (@Reuters) February 11, 2023 "We started thinking... What are we doing for animals? And my husband, Clayton Thomas, his family, we’re veterinarians, so we decided we’ve really got to do something for animals," Rahm said in a video shared by Reuters. "I wanted them to look fashionable. So we did a couture line as well," Rahm added. Meanwhile, the Collina Strada show paid an ode to animals in a menagerie atmosphere. One bewhiskered model "meowed" in front of the delighted audience, followed by a model with a rhinoceros horn and another with a pig snout. The street-wear touch of the brand is still there, but the colours are less psychedelic, more sober and elegant. Also read: Menswear designers debut new collections at New York Fashion Week Those who like theatrical shows will also enjoy a show on Tuesday by Thom Browne, who succeeds Tom Ford as the head of the American fashion union (CFDA). Among the other headliners are regulars Proenza Schouler, Altuzarra, Coach, Sergio Hudson, Carolina Herrera, Gabriela Hearst and Michael Kors. But the programme, which ends on Wednesday, again has a notable absence of high-profilers such as Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and previous CFDA lead Tom Ford. Pop icon Rihanna, who has exhibited her lingerie collection Fenty in New York in the past, will instead be performing at the much-watched Super Bowl half-time show on Sunday. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Rescue dogs sashay down the catwalk at New York Fashion Week, delight audience: Watch

A cry goes up the from crowd, a sea of craning necks and suddenly hundreds of cellphones go up in the air&nbsp;clicking photos. An influencer has just arrived at a fashion show.

This is the scene that has played out day after day at Milan Fashion Week, where live shows began Wednesday, all accompanied by crowds of fashion hopefuls, fans and photographers hoping to capture a perfect Instagram shot of their favourite influencer.&nbsp;

At Versace on Friday night, hundreds of fans crushed against a barrier to catch a glimpse of someone -- anyone -- photo-worthy to later post on social media. Every few minutes, dozens of fans would dash to another area of the barricade at the sound of a vehicle.

"We just saw a black car come in, but we saw nothing," said Riccardo Capobianco, 24, in the crowd with his friend Irina. "We have no idea what's happening."&nbsp;

Ditto with Sarah Pilot, 22, an American student surrounded by her girlfriends.&nbsp; "We're kind of laughing at ourselves watching," she admitted sheepishly.

A scream went up in the crowd, but cut off quickly, as a new group of people entering the show came into view.&nbsp; "Are those just average people with tickets?" one of the girls asked.

Nobody becomes somebody -

Outside Prada, Dolce &amp; Gabbana, Moschino, Max Mara and other shows, the sidewalk is the new catwalk for fashion wannabes, the Instagram stars they worship and photographers from all across the globe -- mostly freelancers or amateurs -- who capture it all.

But who are these people pouting at the camera, flipping their hair and pursing their lips?

"They're all Instagram fashionistas," London photographer Ash Mahmood, 26 told AFP. "They're nobody turned into somebody. That's how it works." The amateur photographers hope their subjects -- with their thousands even millions of followers -- will repost their photos, gaining exposure.&nbsp;

But the exercise isn't even about fashion, or beauty for that matter, but recognisability, they acknowledged.&nbsp;

"A photo of just anyone isn't worth anything," said Marco Tadini, 60, one of the sidewalk's professionals. "You can be gorgeous but it doesn't count a bit".

Outside Dolce &amp; Gabbana was influencer and model Rahi Chadda -- who has over one million followers on Instagram -- sporting a neon green tailored jacket, matching turtleneck and painted black jeans.

Chadda told AFP he was never really sure who was taking his photo.&nbsp;

"But when you're at the shows throughout the season you start to recognise their faces," he said.&nbsp; Two American fashion students looking bemused at Fendi said it was their first time outside a show.

New Yorker Taylor May, 20, said she was used to seeing "a lot of weird fashion" back at home so was curious to see what was on display in Milan -- namely neon colours and maxi skirts.

So far they haven't recognised anyone entering the fashion show.

"We're lost but we can see who's getting their picture taken," said her friend Kia Patterson, 21, from Missouri.&nbsp;That didn't mean all the fashion was good, May cautioned.&nbsp;

"One of the outfits, I was like 'Nooooo'...." she said.

Back outside Versace, the squeals from the fans and the mad rushes at the barricades to catch a glimpse of arriving guests were starting to get old for Sara Pelizzoli, 22, and her friend Paola Cecinati, 21. "They're a little fanatic, they could calm down a little bit," Pelizzoli said.

A cry goes up the from crowd, a sea of craning necks and suddenly hundreds of cellphones go up in the air clicking photos. An influencer has just arrived at a fashion show.

A cry goes up the from crowd, a sea of craning necks and suddenly hundreds of cellphones go up in the air clicking photos. An influencer has just arrived at a fashion show. This is the scene that has played out day after day at Milan Fashion Week, where live shows began Wednesday, all accompanied by crowds of fashion hopefuls, fans and photographers hoping to capture a perfect Instagram shot of their favourite influencer. At Versace on Friday night, hundreds of fans crushed against a barrier to catch a glimpse of someone -- anyone -- photo-worthy to later post on social media. Every few minutes, dozens of fans would dash to another area of the barricade at the sound of a vehicle. "We just saw a black car come in, but we saw nothing," said Riccardo Capobianco, 24, in the crowd with his friend Irina. "We have no idea what's happening." Ditto with Sarah Pilot, 22, an American student surrounded by her girlfriends. "We're kind of laughing at ourselves watching," she admitted sheepishly. A scream went up in the crowd, but cut off quickly, as a new group of people entering the show came into view. "Are those just average people with tickets?" one of the girls asked. Nobody becomes somebody - Outside Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino, Max Mara and other shows, the sidewalk is the new catwalk for fashion wannabes, the Instagram stars they worship and photographers from all across the globe -- mostly freelancers or amateurs -- who capture it all. But who are these people pouting at the camera, flipping their hair and pursing their lips? "They're all Instagram fashionistas," London photographer Ash Mahmood, 26 told AFP. "They're nobody turned into somebody. That's how it works." The amateur photographers hope their subjects -- with their thousands even millions of followers -- will repost their photos, gaining exposure. But the exercise isn't even about fashion, or beauty for that matter, but recognisability, they acknowledged. "A photo of just anyone isn't worth anything," said Marco Tadini, 60, one of the sidewalk's professionals. "You can be gorgeous but it doesn't count a bit". Outside Dolce & Gabbana was influencer and model Rahi Chadda -- who has over one million followers on Instagram -- sporting a neon green tailored jacket, matching turtleneck and painted black jeans. Chadda told AFP he was never really sure who was taking his photo. "But when you're at the shows throughout the season you start to recognise their faces," he said. Two American fashion students looking bemused at Fendi said it was their first time outside a show. New Yorker Taylor May, 20, said she was used to seeing "a lot of weird fashion" back at home so was curious to see what was on display in Milan -- namely neon colours and maxi skirts. So far they haven't recognised anyone entering the fashion show. "We're lost but we can see who's getting their picture taken," said her friend Kia Patterson, 21, from Missouri. That didn't mean all the fashion was good, May cautioned. "One of the outfits, I was like 'Nooooo'...." she said. Back outside Versace, the squeals from the fans and the mad rushes at the barricades to catch a glimpse of arriving guests were starting to get old for Sara Pelizzoli, 22, and her friend Paola Cecinati, 21. "They're a little fanatic, they could calm down a little bit," Pelizzoli said.

Sidewalk is new catwalk outside Milan fashion shows

Virgil Abloh reimagined the profile of a fashion designer, merging streetwear, music and high fashion, and shattering glass ceilings as the first black creative director at Louis Vuitton.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-visionary-fashion-designer-virgil-abloh-dies-aged-41-432638">Virgil Abloh </a>died on Sunday at the age of 41, with few aware that he had been battling a rare form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma, since 2019.

His partnership with Kanye West catapulted Abloh from the skate and DJ culture of Chicago to the heights of the fashion world, first with his own red-hot label Off-White, and then to the apex of the traditional luxury industry in Paris.&nbsp;

His cancer diagnosis came just a year after he was appointed as head of menswear for Louis Vuitton, becoming the first black person to take an artistic director role at a top French fashion house.

That did not stop him maintaining a gruelling schedule as he remoulded the label in his image, merging streetwear, social media and celebrity -- while also moonlighting as a DJ and a furniture designer for IKEA.&nbsp;

"Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself," he was often quoted as saying, as he pulled in the influences from his youth to breathe new life into the catwalk.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/thanksgiving-2021-priyanka-chopra-lady-gaga-other-celebs-shares-what-they-are-thankful-for-432073" hreflang="en">Thanksgiving 2021: Priyanka Chopra, Lady Gaga &amp; other celebs shares what they are 'thankful for'</a>

- Accidental designer -

Abloh, the son of Ghanaian immigrants, studied architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, but his career took a surprising turn after his design ideas caught the attention of West, who hired him as his creative director in 2007.&nbsp;

The pair were determined to revamp the world of high fashion, and even took on an internship together at Fendi in Rome in 2009 in their bid to learn the business.&nbsp;

Abloh started his first clothing label, Pyrex Vision, in 2012.&nbsp;

"I didn't make a conscious decision one day that I wanted to be a designer," he told GQ. "I made Pyrex, which in my mind was more like an art piece... and I needed clothing to support this idea."

Pyrex quickly morphed into Off-White, which took the fashion world by storm by by mixing urban style with high-end tailoring.&nbsp;

Its trademark diagonal stripes were combined with ironic messaging -- often putting fashion terms in quotation marks on his clothing.&nbsp;

It all added to Abloh's youth appeal, as did his early embrace of Instagram (he had 6.5 million followers at the time of his passing).

His 2017 collaboration with Nike became "the Official Sneaker of Celebrities Everywhere" in the words of GQ, and many more tie-ups followed, running the gamut from Jimmy Choo and Moncler to even McDonald's.&nbsp;

That sealed the deal.&nbsp;

With the old fashion houses desperate to attract younger buyers, Abloh was the obvious candidate to replace Kim Jones -- himself a pioneer of luxury streetwear -- when he left Louis Vuitton.&nbsp;

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- 'Shocked' -

The reactions to his death reflect the fact that Abloh seemed to have only just arrived and had much more to offer.

"We are all shocked by this terrible news," said Bernard Arnault, chief executive of LVMH, the group that owns Louis Vuitton and had taken a majority stake in Off-White this year, in a statement.&nbsp;

"Virgil was not only a genius designer, a visionary, but also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom," he added.&nbsp;

Abloh looked set to offer a powerful voice for change in the fashion world, vowing "to expand opportunities for diverse individuals and foster greater equity and inclusion in the industries we serve".

His first show for Louis Vuitton in March 2018 with models from around the world strutting down a rainbow runway.&nbsp;

Abloh faced some backlash in 2020 when he voiced anger over the rioting that accompanied protests over the murder of George Floyd in the US.&nbsp;

But that did little to dent his status as a ground-breaking figure.

"RIP VIRGIL ABLOH. No one will forget the impact you had. God bless you my friend," tweeted the French football star Kylian Mbappe.

American singer Pharrell Williams wrote on Instagram: "Virgil you were a kind, generous, thoughtful creative genius your work as a human and your work as a spiritual being will live forever."

Actor Riz Ahmed tweeted: "Gone too soon but your legacy lives on. Stretched culture and changed the game. Thank you for all you did to support so many &amp; how you pushed us to reimagine what’s possible.

Virgil Abloh reimagined the profile of a fashion designer, merging streetwear, music and high fashion, and shattering glass ceilings as the first black creative director at Louis Vuitton.

Virgil Abloh reimagined the profile of a fashion designer, merging streetwear, music and high fashion, and shattering glass ceilings as the first black creative director at Louis Vuitton. Virgil Abloh died on Sunday at the age of 41, with few aware that he had been battling a rare form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma, since 2019. His partnership with Kanye West catapulted Abloh from the skate and DJ culture of Chicago to the heights of the fashion world, first with his own red-hot label Off-White, and then to the apex of the traditional luxury industry in Paris. His cancer diagnosis came just a year after he was appointed as head of menswear for Louis Vuitton, becoming the first black person to take an artistic director role at a top French fashion house. That did not stop him maintaining a gruelling schedule as he remoulded the label in his image, merging streetwear, social media and celebrity -- while also moonlighting as a DJ and a furniture designer for IKEA. "Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself," he was often quoted as saying, as he pulled in the influences from his youth to breathe new life into the catwalk. Thanksgiving 2021: Priyanka Chopra, Lady Gaga & other celebs shares what they are 'thankful for' - Accidental designer - Abloh, the son of Ghanaian immigrants, studied architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, but his career took a surprising turn after his design ideas caught the attention of West, who hired him as his creative director in 2007. The pair were determined to revamp the world of high fashion, and even took on an internship together at Fendi in Rome in 2009 in their bid to learn the business. Abloh started his first clothing label, Pyrex Vision, in 2012. "I didn't make a conscious decision one day that I wanted to be a designer," he told GQ. "I made Pyrex, which in my mind was more like an art piece... and I needed clothing to support this idea." Pyrex quickly morphed into Off-White, which took the fashion world by storm by by mixing urban style with high-end tailoring. Its trademark diagonal stripes were combined with ironic messaging -- often putting fashion terms in quotation marks on his clothing. It all added to Abloh's youth appeal, as did his early embrace of Instagram (he had 6.5 million followers at the time of his passing). His 2017 collaboration with Nike became "the Official Sneaker of Celebrities Everywhere" in the words of GQ, and many more tie-ups followed, running the gamut from Jimmy Choo and Moncler to even McDonald's. That sealed the deal. With the old fashion houses desperate to attract younger buyers, Abloh was the obvious candidate to replace Kim Jones -- himself a pioneer of luxury streetwear -- when he left Louis Vuitton. Lindsay Lohan gets engaged to boyfriend Bader Shammas, shares pics - 'Shocked' - The reactions to his death reflect the fact that Abloh seemed to have only just arrived and had much more to offer. "We are all shocked by this terrible news," said Bernard Arnault, chief executive of LVMH, the group that owns Louis Vuitton and had taken a majority stake in Off-White this year, in a statement. "Virgil was not only a genius designer, a visionary, but also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom," he added. Abloh looked set to offer a powerful voice for change in the fashion world, vowing "to expand opportunities for diverse individuals and foster greater equity and inclusion in the industries we serve". His first show for Louis Vuitton in March 2018 with models from around the world strutting down a rainbow runway. Abloh faced some backlash in 2020 when he voiced anger over the rioting that accompanied protests over the murder of George Floyd in the US. But that did little to dent his status as a ground-breaking figure. "RIP VIRGIL ABLOH. No one will forget the impact you had. God bless you my friend," tweeted the French football star Kylian Mbappe. American singer Pharrell Williams wrote on Instagram: "Virgil you were a kind, generous, thoughtful creative genius your work as a human and your work as a spiritual being will live forever." Actor Riz Ahmed tweeted: "Gone too soon but your legacy lives on. Stretched culture and changed the game. Thank you for all you did to support so many & how you pushed us to reimagine what’s possible.

Virgil Abloh: the man who brought the street to the catwalk

Catwalk shows resume at London Fashion Week on Friday, after previous editions of the landmark industry event were forced online by the coronavirus pandemic.

The sight of models and audiences together again will be a welcome sight for a country hoping to bounce back after lifting most restrictions in July.

A total of 28 shows are planned over five days, featuring 131 brands, including those from well-established designers such as Britain's Edward Crutchley and Serbia's Roksanda.

Irish designer Simone Rocha's brand is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

But there are two notable absentees: former Spice Girl turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham, and the luxury brand Burberry.

Last September, Burberry presented its spring-summer 2021 collection with a show on the streaming platform Twitch, filmed in the middle of a forest and broadcast live.&nbsp;

Some designers this time round are preferring to present their latest creations by appointment only, or via videos on the Fashion Week platform.

In February, London Fashion Week was held entirely online, as the country was deep into a mid-winter virus lockdown.

The London Fashion Council (LFC) said the September shows "mark the long-awaited cultural reopening of London and brings back the global fashion industry to the UK".

The event -- one of the big four international fashion weeks alongside Paris, New York and Milan -- has previously been targeted by climate change campaigners.

Direct action groups such as Extinction Rebellion have denounced what they see as the exploitative practices of "fast fashion" and the environmental costs of production.

The LFC promised the event would partly focus on "the actions people and the industry can take to act responsibly to become changemakers and create a better world".

- Bounce back -

Among the emerging talents this year is London-based Albanian designer Nensi Dojaka, who is presenting her first ever show on Friday.

A graduate of the prestigious Central Saint Martins fashion school in London, the 27-year-old designer won the LVMH 2021 prize for young talent last week.&nbsp;

Her black babydoll dresses with graphic details won over the jury.&nbsp;

Following on from New York and preceding Milan, London Fashion Week is dedicated to spring-summer 2022 collections and is intended to be "gender neutral".&nbsp;

The British fashion industry, which employed around 890,000 people in 2019, is hoping to bounce back after suffering a slump during the global health crisis.

According to data from Oxford Economics for the Creative Industries Federation and Creative England, the sector could recover faster than the UK economy as a whole.

It estimated growth of more than 25 percent by 2025, which would contribute some £132.1 billion ($180 billion, 153 billion euros) to the UK economy -- more than £28 billion more than in 2020.

In July, Burberry announced that its first quarter sales had returned to pre-pandemic levels. However, sales in Europe continued to suffer from the lack of tourists.&nbsp;

Last week, the London-based French designer Roland Mouret told the Financial Times it could take his brand five years to fully recover from the impact of the pandemic.&nbsp;

Catwalk shows resume at London Fashion Week on Friday, after previous editions of the landmark industry event were forced online by the coronavirus pandemic. The sight of models and audiences together again will be a welcome sight for a country hoping to bounce back after lifting most restrictions in July.

Catwalk shows resume at London Fashion Week on Friday, after previous editions of the landmark industry event were forced online by the coronavirus pandemic. The sight of models and audiences together again will be a welcome sight for a country hoping to bounce back after lifting most restrictions in July. A total of 28 shows are planned over five days, featuring 131 brands, including those from well-established designers such as Britain's Edward Crutchley and Serbia's Roksanda. Irish designer Simone Rocha's brand is celebrating its 10th anniversary. But there are two notable absentees: former Spice Girl turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham, and the luxury brand Burberry. Last September, Burberry presented its spring-summer 2021 collection with a show on the streaming platform Twitch, filmed in the middle of a forest and broadcast live. Some designers this time round are preferring to present their latest creations by appointment only, or via videos on the Fashion Week platform. In February, London Fashion Week was held entirely online, as the country was deep into a mid-winter virus lockdown. The London Fashion Council (LFC) said the September shows "mark the long-awaited cultural reopening of London and brings back the global fashion industry to the UK". The event -- one of the big four international fashion weeks alongside Paris, New York and Milan -- has previously been targeted by climate change campaigners. Direct action groups such as Extinction Rebellion have denounced what they see as the exploitative practices of "fast fashion" and the environmental costs of production. The LFC promised the event would partly focus on "the actions people and the industry can take to act responsibly to become changemakers and create a better world". - Bounce back - Among the emerging talents this year is London-based Albanian designer Nensi Dojaka, who is presenting her first ever show on Friday. A graduate of the prestigious Central Saint Martins fashion school in London, the 27-year-old designer won the LVMH 2021 prize for young talent last week. Her black babydoll dresses with graphic details won over the jury. Following on from New York and preceding Milan, London Fashion Week is dedicated to spring-summer 2022 collections and is intended to be "gender neutral". The British fashion industry, which employed around 890,000 people in 2019, is hoping to bounce back after suffering a slump during the global health crisis. According to data from Oxford Economics for the Creative Industries Federation and Creative England, the sector could recover faster than the UK economy as a whole. It estimated growth of more than 25 percent by 2025, which would contribute some £132.1 billion ($180 billion, 153 billion euros) to the UK economy -- more than £28 billion more than in 2020. In July, Burberry announced that its first quarter sales had returned to pre-pandemic levels. However, sales in Europe continued to suffer from the lack of tourists. Last week, the London-based French designer Roland Mouret told the Financial Times it could take his brand five years to fully recover from the impact of the pandemic.

Back on the catwalk: live shows return at London Fashion Week

There were no spectators, no influencers, no fashionistas, at Saint Laurent’s presentation of its 2021 Women’s Summer collection, only drone footage of models walking on the crest of a tall sand dune in the middle of a honey-coloured desert.

Every year, France’s top fashion houses compete to find the most spectacular locations in Paris to host their women’s wear shows, but with catwalks closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, brands now try do outdo each other with spectacular locations for their online-only shows.

Already in the first wave of the pandemic in April, Saint Laurent, owned by the Kering conglomerate, broke away from the usual twice-yearly calendar of women’s catwalk shows in Paris.

It revealed its latest collection on Tuesday, designed by Anthony Vaccarello, with a 10-minute Vaccarello fashion film called “I wish you were here”.

Models, some of them struggling to walk in the sand with high heels, showed off sensuous evening wear, others boardroom-ready conservative pantsuits.

The models also donned tight-fitting ribbed skirts under black leather jackets, figure-hugging black dresses with a top-to-bottom zipper, sheer halter dresses and gold-and-black brocade jackets.

The looks were interspersed with some flowing dresses with floral motives. Many models sported YSL-branded mini beltbags to match.

As night fell over the desert - Saint Laurent declined to reveal the location, only saying it was “a desert in the north” - models walked along a ridge of fire burning on the dune’s crest, the flames reflected in the evening sparkle, gold embroidery and Claude Lalanne-designed jewelry.

Saint Laurent said the film was “an invitation for escapism”, without specifying from what. From COVID-19, presumably, and from the year 2020.

There were no spectators, no influencers, no fashionistas, at Saint Laurent’s presentation of its 2021 Women’s Summer collection, only drone footage of models walking on the crest of a tall sand dune in the middle of a honey-coloured desert.

There were no spectators, no influencers, no fashionistas, at Saint Laurent’s presentation of its 2021 Women’s Summer collection, only drone footage of models walking on the crest of a tall sand dune in the middle of a honey-coloured desert. Every year, France’s top fashion houses compete to find the most spectacular locations in Paris to host their women’s wear shows, but with catwalks closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, brands now try do outdo each other with spectacular locations for their online-only shows. Already in the first wave of the pandemic in April, Saint Laurent, owned by the Kering conglomerate, broke away from the usual twice-yearly calendar of women’s catwalk shows in Paris. It revealed its latest collection on Tuesday, designed by Anthony Vaccarello, with a 10-minute Vaccarello fashion film called “I wish you were here”. Models, some of them struggling to walk in the sand with high heels, showed off sensuous evening wear, others boardroom-ready conservative pantsuits. The models also donned tight-fitting ribbed skirts under black leather jackets, figure-hugging black dresses with a top-to-bottom zipper, sheer halter dresses and gold-and-black brocade jackets. The looks were interspersed with some flowing dresses with floral motives. Many models sported YSL-branded mini beltbags to match. As night fell over the desert - Saint Laurent declined to reveal the location, only saying it was “a desert in the north” - models walked along a ridge of fire burning on the dune’s crest, the flames reflected in the evening sparkle, gold embroidery and Claude Lalanne-designed jewelry. Saint Laurent said the film was “an invitation for escapism”, without specifying from what. From COVID-19, presumably, and from the year 2020.

Catwalk on a sand dune's crest - Saint Laurent takes distancing in its stride

Models clad in chocolate gowns hit the runway in Brussels on Thursday (February 13) night for a show bringing together fashion designers and chocolatiers.

Fashion meets chocolate on Belgian catwalk

For a serious fashion city like Moscow, Sunday's (December 22) "Mature Beauty" fashion show is light-hearted change of tune. The show featured radiant 50+ women hitting the catwalk obviously having a lot of fun doing it.

Russian grannies hit catwalk with style and pride

Meet Daisy, 9-year-old double amputee child model, who will walk at Paris Fashion Week

Anniesa Hasibuan is the first Indonesian designer to showcase at the New York Fashion Week and the first one to be presenting an entire collection of hijab designs at the international platform. 
 
Her collection called D&rsquo;JAKARTA consisted of 48 looks: 38 ready-to-wear pieces and 10 evening gowns. The entire line-up has intricate details infused in the colours of rich gold, brown, peach and green shades with bespoke jewellery and shoes for the look. Anniesa received a standing ovation from the fashion world after the finale, which was a mix of contemporary designs and Indonesian flavour. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/newstyle-20160922124050.png" />
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Models showcasing Anniesa Hasibuan&#39;s collection.
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With a keen interest in fashion, Anniesa started working on it a year ago. Her work inspired by her home-country started gaining recognition from peers in the industry and the Indonesian government. Her collection is a step towards representing Muslim women in high fashion. Models walking the runway in embellished modest high fashion is a statement in itself. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/style4-20160922115034.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Model showcasing Anniesa Hasibuan&#39;s collection.
</div>
She now wants to introduce Indonesia&rsquo;s name to the fashion world and make people aware of its diversity and culture.

<div class="media-description">
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/pinknew-20160923082301.png" />

<div class="media-description">
Model showcasing Anniesa Hasibuan&#39;s collection.
</div>
</div>
New York Fashion Week 2016, like every year, offered a unique collection to the fashion lovers around the world, decoding new fashion trends for the season. 
 
(Contributed by&nbsp;Zeba Khan)

South Asian designs getting recognition on the world's fashion map

Anniesa Hasibuan is the first Indonesian designer to showcase at the New York Fashion Week and the first one to be presenting an entire collection of hijab designs at the international platform. Her collection called D’JAKARTA consisted of 48 looks: 38 ready-to-wear pieces and 10 evening gowns. The entire line-up has intricate details infused in the colours of rich gold, brown, peach and green shades with bespoke jewellery and shoes for the look. Anniesa received a standing ovation from the fashion world after the finale, which was a mix of contemporary designs and Indonesian flavour. Models showcasing Anniesa Hasibuan's collection. With a keen interest in fashion, Anniesa started working on it a year ago. Her work inspired by her home-country started gaining recognition from peers in the industry and the Indonesian government. Her collection is a step towards representing Muslim women in high fashion. Models walking the runway in embellished modest high fashion is a statement in itself. Model showcasing Anniesa Hasibuan's collection. She now wants to introduce Indonesia’s name to the fashion world and make people aware of its diversity and culture. Model showcasing Anniesa Hasibuan's collection. New York Fashion Week 2016, like every year, offered a unique collection to the fashion lovers around the world, decoding new fashion trends for the season. (Contributed by Zeba Khan)

#BeTheChange: The woman who made hijab fashionable

Rebel brand Vetements sent fashion into a spin on Sunday with an haute couture show that broke all the rules, appropriating clothes and shoes from 17 other brands and recutting them in its own irreverent neo-Soviet street style. 
 
The most talked about brand in fashion had been invited to the show as a guest in the elite, uniquely Parisian events, seen as the pinnacle of exclusive made-to-measure clothing. 
 
But instead of bowing to couture&#39;s near century-long tradition of handmade artistry, Vetements called in brands as diverse as Levi&#39;s, Mackintosh and Brioni to supply them with their trademark garments which they then remade. 
 
The result was an attention-hogging show that left few indifferent. 
 
Social media was abuzz afterwards with the red velour tracksuits with &quot;Juicy&quot; picked out in crystals across the bum, gigantic dungaree-aprons and hoodies with shrunken hoods. 
 
The show began with the oversized jackets that have become Vetements calling card, replete with their overlong &quot;gorilla sleeves&quot;. 
 
Then designer Demna Gvasalia rolled out a series of jarring, eye-catching new tropes, pulling up his perennial thigh-high boots so they sometimes reached to the waist and beyond. 
 
He even seemed to be trying to create a previously uncharted erogenous zone halfway between the navel and the sternum by pulling diamond-shaped peep holes in his Comme des Garcons shirts. 
 
Also striking was how Georgian-born Gvasalia - who fans hail for defying the &quot;system&quot; - set out to blur the difference between high and low end brands with Dr Martens boots and Manolo Blahnik stilettos sharing the same runway. 
 
&quot;The idea was to work with brands and their specialised suppliers,&quot; he told reporters backstage after the show. 
 
&quot;Vetements unsubscribes to the difficult production cycle that has been forced upon many designers,&quot; the label said in a statement, referring to the punishing turnaround times creators increasingly must adhere to.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Trailblazing brands - trendsetters of their time - are still relevant today. Not only because of their acclaimed designs, but also because of years of perfecting material and production methods,&quot; it added. 
 
While many questioned whether Vetements&#39; spring men and women&#39;s show was really haute couture, few doubted that it was a shock to the increasingly frenetic fashion system which has seen many designers complain of burnout. 
 
Unlike most of their peers who produce several collections, Vetements, founded by 35-year-old Gvasalia and his younger brother Guram only two years ago, make only two a year so their clothes can spend longer in the shops. 
 
But in one crucial respect the Gvasalias did bow to pressure. Having been pilloried for the lack of black faces in their previous shows, this one was more diverse, prompting Elle magazine&#39;s Kenya Hunt to tweet, &quot;Nice to finally see some people of colour on the Vetements runway&quot;. 
 
Another post-Soviet creator also impressed on Sunday, with the Kazakh designer Ulyana Sergeenko using suspender belts worn over clothes to symbolise &quot;Khrushchev&#39;s thaw&quot; in the 1960s. 
 
In the two other highlights of the opening day, Donatella Versace unveiled an un-typically demure 1950s influenced collection of shimmering gowns that still managed to show off the legs. 
 
And Yuima Nakazato, best known for his creations for the singer Lady Gaga, became the first Japanese designer to show in haute couture for more than a decade. 
 
His futuristic feathery ensembles used coloured layers of PVC cut by machine and then &quot;treated as origami&quot;. 
 
&quot;Combining technology with craftmanship could be the future of couture,&quot; he said afterwards. 
 
(AFP)

Brand takes burnout message to the catwalk, with their usual shock-and-awe treatment

Rebel brand Vetements sent fashion into a spin on Sunday with an haute couture show that broke all the rules, appropriating clothes and shoes from 17 other brands and recutting them in its own irreverent neo-Soviet street style. The most talked about brand in fashion had been invited to the show as a guest in the elite, uniquely Parisian events, seen as the pinnacle of exclusive made-to-measure clothing. But instead of bowing to couture's near century-long tradition of handmade artistry, Vetements called in brands as diverse as Levi's, Mackintosh and Brioni to supply them with their trademark garments which they then remade. The result was an attention-hogging show that left few indifferent. Social media was abuzz afterwards with the red velour tracksuits with "Juicy" picked out in crystals across the bum, gigantic dungaree-aprons and hoodies with shrunken hoods. The show began with the oversized jackets that have become Vetements calling card, replete with their overlong "gorilla sleeves". Then designer Demna Gvasalia rolled out a series of jarring, eye-catching new tropes, pulling up his perennial thigh-high boots so they sometimes reached to the waist and beyond. He even seemed to be trying to create a previously uncharted erogenous zone halfway between the navel and the sternum by pulling diamond-shaped peep holes in his Comme des Garcons shirts. Also striking was how Georgian-born Gvasalia - who fans hail for defying the "system" - set out to blur the difference between high and low end brands with Dr Martens boots and Manolo Blahnik stilettos sharing the same runway. "The idea was to work with brands and their specialised suppliers," he told reporters backstage after the show. "Vetements unsubscribes to the difficult production cycle that has been forced upon many designers," the label said in a statement, referring to the punishing turnaround times creators increasingly must adhere to. "Trailblazing brands - trendsetters of their time - are still relevant today. Not only because of their acclaimed designs, but also because of years of perfecting material and production methods," it added. While many questioned whether Vetements' spring men and women's show was really haute couture, few doubted that it was a shock to the increasingly frenetic fashion system which has seen many designers complain of burnout. Unlike most of their peers who produce several collections, Vetements, founded by 35-year-old Gvasalia and his younger brother Guram only two years ago, make only two a year so their clothes can spend longer in the shops. But in one crucial respect the Gvasalias did bow to pressure. Having been pilloried for the lack of black faces in their previous shows, this one was more diverse, prompting Elle magazine's Kenya Hunt to tweet, "Nice to finally see some people of colour on the Vetements runway". Another post-Soviet creator also impressed on Sunday, with the Kazakh designer Ulyana Sergeenko using suspender belts worn over clothes to symbolise "Khrushchev's thaw" in the 1960s. In the two other highlights of the opening day, Donatella Versace unveiled an un-typically demure 1950s influenced collection of shimmering gowns that still managed to show off the legs. And Yuima Nakazato, best known for his creations for the singer Lady Gaga, became the first Japanese designer to show in haute couture for more than a decade. His futuristic feathery ensembles used coloured layers of PVC cut by machine and then "treated as origami". "Combining technology with craftmanship could be the future of couture," he said afterwards. (AFP)

Fashion rebels Vetements stitch up haute couture

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