Fashion Week is one of the fashion industry’s most emblematic events. The twice-yearly event attracts designers, celebrities, influencers and buyers from all over the world to discover the latest trends and collections from fashion houses. Held in iconic cities like Paris, Milan, New York and London, Fashion Week is divided into several categories representing different elements of fashion: haute couture, women's and men's ready-to-wear. Here we’ll find out together what Fashion Week is all about and what the differences between the different categories.
Fashion Week: the unmissable fashion event
Fashion Week is the moment when fashion designers present their new collections for the coming seasons. It takes place twice a year: in February/March for the Autumn/Winter collections and in September/October for the Spring/Summer collections. Over the course of several days, each city organises fashion shows where designers unveil their new pieces to an audience of journalists, buyers, celebrities and influencers.
Fashion Week's most influential cities are often referred to as the 'Big Four': Paris, Milan, New York and London. Paris is particularly renowned for its haute couture Fashion Week, while New York focuses more on ready-to-wear. Milan is known for the big Italian houses and London for its emerging talent.
Haute couture: the height of fashion
Haute couture represents the fashion world’s ultimate luxury. The term, protected by law in France, refers to unique, made-to-measure creations for privileged customers. Each piece of haute couture is handcrafted using the most precious of materials, and can take hundreds of hours to complete. Only a few houses are allowed to use the "haute couture" designation, and they must meet strict criteria set out by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris.
Haute couture shows are characterised by their exclusivity and boundless creativity. Unlike ready-to-wear, these collections are not intended for mass production. Rather, they are a demonstration of designers’ technical prowess and artistic vision.
Women's ready-to-wear: the art of affordable fashion
Women's ready-to-wear is fashion designed to be mass-produced and marketed. Unlike haute couture, ready-to-wear collections are designed to be worn by the general public. They combine creativity, fashion and practicality, while remaining more accessibly priced than one-off haute couture pieces.
Women's ready-to-wear Fashion Week is often the most talked-about event of the year. The major fashion houses and emerging designers present their visions of the trends for the coming season. These collections reflect what will be seen in boutiques around the world a few months after the shows. Many brands use steamers to prepare their clothes, both on the catwalk and in their boutiques, in order to keep their appearance immaculate.
See also: our professional steamers.
Men's ready-to-wear: a fast-growing market
Men's ready-to-wear has grown in popularity in recent years, with Fashion Weeks dedicated to men's collections. While men's fashion was once more limited than women's, designers are now exploring new ways to reinvent the male wardrobe.
The men's ready-to-wear shows feature ever-more daring collections, incorporating modern cuts, innovative textiles and influences from urban culture and sportswear. Milan and Paris are particularly renowned for their men's Fashion Weeks, which now rival the women's shows in importance.
A celebration of creativity
Fashion Week is a celebration of creativity in all its forms. Whether through the exclusivity and craftsmanship of haute couture, the affordable trends of women's ready-to-wear, or the innovation and daring of men's ready-to-wear, the zenith of the fashion calendar reveals the industry’s many facets. Fashion Week continues to fascinate and to define what we'll be wearing tomorrow.