Almost every Haute Couture week leaves me inspired and rejuvenated! Last week, I was scrolling through social media and was just amazed by all the new couture collections. I could sense a renewed energy. It was also exciting to see when STYLE NOT COM posted the invites to the collections because that's when I noticed it first.
In a world where the buzzword is AI, couture collections chose to highlight the fact that the skill of making a garment by hand is an art. It is a true art form that can't be easily replicated by the machines. Runway shows can be fleeting. So, the invites reflected the eye for details.
Chanel had their invitation enclosed by their signature button. The timeless element of the brand personifies the brand itself. The Spring-Summer 2024 Haute Couture show aptly named The Button commenced with the film showcasing the journey of the button that made its way to the runway as the centerpiece.
Couture is all about the craft of clothes and the people and tools needed to make it come to life. So, the film rightfully displayed the huge thread and needle and a pair of scissors needed to meticulously hand-stitch the jewel button. Speaking of thread...
ALAÏA show invite had a bobine with a leather strap that turned into a bracelet or a necklace. How cool is that? But the true artistry was in the collection itself, as all the garments were created with a single yarn, Merino wool.
While ALAÏA's invite was a bobine, Victor & Rolf's social media invite displayed the pinking shears and gave us the hint of the raw edges we were about to see on the catwalk.
Let's not forget the artisans who are handling these tools. They are the most important element in making the couture clothing possible. At Valentino, creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli always keeps this in mind and gives craftsmanship the center stage. After the collection, he has the people from his atelier, who helped make it possible, walk the runway and take a bow alongside him.
This reminded me of Rahul Mishra's Fall Couture 2023 collection, We The People. The embroidery details of the collection flaunted the people who made the collection possible. How incredible is that?
It felt like these subtle but impactful hints throughout the couture week sent a message about the details and dedication the couture crafts take. Something the AI won't be able to conceptualize without prompts, and the new technology would find hard to replicate.
Although, AI did make an appearance in a much more couture way than expected. Schiaparelli's Haute Couture collection showstopper was an AI-inspired robot toddler!
The collection also featured the motherboard, the microchips, and the couture craftsmanship. In a surrealist way, Daniel Roseberry showcased the SCHIAPARALIEN COUTURE.
For someone who loves to watch the BTS of a collection, the focus on the tools and details was such a pleasure to watch. It's all about the craft, the tools, and the people who make couture season possible.
I am mesmerized and can't wait to see what the rest of the fashion month has in store.
Love,
Rashmi B.
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