When the pandemic first hit, fashion week was one of the first to spiral. Every designer, luxury house and brand were up in arms with uncertainty, as with all of us, we were only left guessing as to which way the world would go. During these past 18 months we saw brands take many turns. Many changed their hands in creative directorships, reflected on strategies, rearranged their teams, and as for luxury brands like Saint Laurent, many pulled out of fashion week schedules taking back their own power and initiative with fashion presentations and seasonal shows.
And just as we were anxiously anticipating the official announcement and release of the Paris Fashion Week schedule - it has been announced in the mere matter of hours that Saint Laurent will see itself return to Paris Fashion Week, after a hiatus in runway shows. French luxury group Kering (who are in current ownership of Saint Laurent) have positioned the house back on the fashion week market and with a prime slot of closing out the first day of the return of in person Paris Fashion Week shows.
Back in April 2020, the brand released a statement saying, "Saint Laurent will take ownership of its calendar and launch its collections following a plan conceived with an up-to-date perspective, driven by creativity.” In which we saw other Kering group brands like Balenciaga, Gucci, Bottega Veneta and Alexander McQueen all follow suit. So now that leaves us to beg the question, what made Kering and Saint Laurent double back and change their minds?
It seems as though Saint Laurent has not yet released an official statement, and so yet, we are only left to wonder. Of course, when brands departed from the schedule one by one, they were of the hope of more creative freedom and liberation, some considering this an out from what could be seen as the dated conventions of fashion presentations. However it seems, nothing can still beat the global commotion fashion week schedules bring, surely putting pressure on luxury brands to return back to schedule after its seasons departures and experimentations.
Saint Laurent will return to Paris Fashion Week with its Spring Summer 2022 runway debut 28th September. For more fashion week news, schedule and show coverages - follow along on russh.com or throughout RUSSH social media.
