A first in the history of fashion, the Summer 2021 Men's Fashion Week was entirely hosted online, on a platform created by the Federation of Haute Couture and Fashion. Live or on replay, this season's fashion shows unfolded in short films, music videos, teasers, interviews with designers, animation, mini-documentaries, filmed choreographies and more. Each artist was given the freedom to express his or her vision of the world and of fashion.
At the studio of Glenn Martens, Artistic Director for Y/Project and a specialist in deconstruction, clothing was modular, featuring numerous false pleats and illusions, with pieces appearing to double and triple in volume. Illustrating this modularity, stylists worked with models to transform their look into a plethora of different designs. Rick Owens transported us to his Paris-based studio for a fitting session. At the head of Botter, are the winners of the 2018 Hyères Festival, Rushemy Botter and Lisi Herrebrugh, echoing the Black Lives Matter movement, chose to speak out against racism, ignorance and the lack of empathy. They delivered a message of hope, integrity and love, in a deeply poetic video. "As creators, we are dreamers, and the power of dreams is the ability to make people believe in life. We all need to believe it's possible to be united", they said.
Dreaming was also at the heart of Creative Director at Lanvin Bruno Sialelli's proposition, who presented the brand's new collection at the Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval. Meanwhile, Boramy Viguier portrayed a chivalrous world with a sci-fi feel through his digital runway. Finally, a special mention to Berlin-based label GmbH, who showcased a poignant video, entitled "A Season of Migration to the North." Produced by artist Lars Laumann, this work tells the story of the activist Eddie Esmail, a victim of homophobic persecution, who was arrested while taking part in a fashion show in Sudan. A reminder that fashion is also a powerful platform for conveying progressive messages.