Paris and Milan postpone menswear and haute couture seasons

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Mar 27, 2020

The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode and the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana in Milan, respectively the governing fashion bodies in France and Italy, have decided to postpone their next menswear seasons and the Paris haute couture runway season this summer. The measures are the latest major disruptions to the international fashion calendar caused by Covid-19.

The French organization stressed in a release that “it is actively working with its members on possible alternatives,” without suggesting an alternative month.

“In light of the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic worldwide, strong decisions are required to ensure the safety and health of Houses, their employees and everyone working in our industry. Consequently, the Board of Directors of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode has come to the decision that, in the present conditions, the Paris Fashion Week Menswear, scheduled from June 23rd to June 28th, 2020, and the Haute Couture Week scheduled from July 5 to July 9, 2020, cannot take place,” it added.

In a related move, the CNMI said that Milan men's fashion week, scheduled for 19-23 June, would take place during the Italian womenswear season in September.

“The decision was made necessary by the difficult situation caused by the widening Covid-19 pandemic,” the CNMI said in a release.

It added that it was working on “new digital formats and new ways of meeting in life,” for the days scheduled for Milan menswear, via B2B and B2C platforms.  

France's FHCM acted on the same day that the country announced an extension of its national lockdown. This was originally intended for 15 days starting at midday Tuesday, March 17, but has now been extended until April 15.

The FHCM and CNMI held just days ago a video conference with the other major fashion organizations running runway seasons, the British Fashion Council in London and the Council of Fashion Designers of America, which augured for a united front in terms of dates.

For the moment, two other key European fashion seasons this summer have still not changed their dates: London men's fashion week and Pitti Uomo in Florence, both scheduled for June. However, the BFC is understood to be actively considering a fully digital season in London, and is expected to announce a decision next week. Pitti has just announced that it will make a definite decision on April 2.