A History of Iconic Runway Show Locations
In 2022, Jacquemus, who is originally from the South of France, held Le Papier, his Fall/Winter 2022-2023 fashion show, in the salt field of Salin de Giraud, Camargue, France. He surprised the few invited guests in a stunning chromatic expanse.
In 1988, Yves Saint Laurent showed 300 of his designs at the Stade de France for the FIFA World Cup final. It took 900 people to organize the event, and the 15-minute show was streamed to 1.7 billion international spectators.
In 2016, FENDI’s show, celebrating its 90th anniversary, was held at the Trevi Fountain, Rome. The house reportedly donated $4 million to fund the restoration of the landmark. Models walked along a glass runway above the fountain, giving the impression of walking on water.
In 2023, Saint Laurent’s creative director, Anthony Vaccarello, presented his Spring Summer Menswear collection in the Moroccan desert. The finale of the show featured an enormous disk, made by London-based artist and designer Es Devlin, that rose from the ground and omitted clouds of smoke.
In 2007, FENDI conquered The Great Wall of China. What’s notable is that they did not have an official approval, just a lot of ‘”non-rejections,” according to WWD. The show was risky for the at-the-time financially precarious fashion house; however, it, evidently, paid off.
In 2020, Dior staged its Resort show at the El Badi Palace in Marrakech, Morocco. The theme was “Common Ground,” which celebrated its collaboration with, and inspiration from, several African artists.
To showcase his 2007 Spring/ Summer collection, Pierre Cardin chose the Whistling Sand Mountain, on the outskirts of Dunhuang, China. Models appeared from behind the dunes, some riding on camels, presenting 200 dresses.
In 2019, Dolce & Gabbana presented its Alta Moda collection in the Valley of Temples, Sicily. Domenico Dolce, the designer, comes from the region himself, and negotiations of the show took 2 years. The 125 looks that were shown, many drawing inspiration from the site itself, were met with the guests’ standing ovation.
The immersion and showcasing of fashion into cultural, historical and geographical phenomena that has become almost elemental to runway shows in recent years suggests the unbounded cultural importance that the world of fashion views itself as having, as well as its urge to recognise itself as an advocate of cultural patronage and celebration.
Article by Alana Courtney-Gleeson, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Chenglin Qu, Graphic Design Intern, PhotoBook Magazine
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