By Valentine Fabre
Credit: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2023 Show
Running from July 3rd to 6th, the traditional Paris Haute Couture Week is back with an exquisite schedule of over 30 shows. Here is what to know and to remember for this upcoming celebration of craftsmanship.
Originating from a bespoke boutique in Paris from the mid-19th century opened by Charles Frederick Worth, Haute Couture has now become a highly regulated term aiming at honouring the art of dressmaking. Supervised by the current Chambre Syndicale de La Haute Couture, in the French capital, the label can only be attributed to certain brands following a specific set of highly monitored rules. To be considered as a member, a brand must be designing made-to-order designs, employing at least 15 full-time staff as well as 20 full full-time technical workers and have two collections a year with at least 50 original designs.
As the schedule for Fall/Winter 23/24 Couture week was revealed in early June, we now know that amongst the 30+ shows, avant-garde house Schiaparelli will be opening the festivities, with hopefully another take on the house’s surrealist staple pieces from creative director Daniel Roseberry. Following a controversial collection back in January featuring faux, handmade animal heads, the house promises to set the stage for a flamboyant season.
Also opening the week, other Haute Couture members such as Dior and Giambattista Valli will be presenting their collections, alongside corresponding (brands based outside of Paris) and guest members, such as Iris Van Herpen, Thom Browne, Charles de Vilmorin, Georges Hobeika and Julie de Libran.
Amongst distinguished European names such as Chanel, Stéphane Rolland, Alexandre Vauthier, Viktor & Rolf and Fendi, Mohammed Ash will become the first designer from the Gulf Region to join the selected group of brands showing, as a guest member with his eponymous house. The Saudi designer founded his house in 2006 and relocated to Paris in 2018, whilst rising to fame by dressing global celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and many members of Middle Eastern Royal Families.
As for Jean-Paul Gaultier, the iconic French brand will be overseen by Julien Dossena (currently the creative director for Paco Rabanne), for its upcoming show on July 5th, after previous collections by guests designers such as Olivier Rousteing, Glenn Martens, Chitose Abe and Haider Ackermann, in the hopes that the French Designer will succeed in combining the House’s heritage with his stylistic codes.
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