Fashion democracy at last, thanks to Givenchy, and why it's overdue
Label will open its 2016 womenswear show in New York to members of the public - and about time, too, in an era when people are more connected to and fascinated by fashion than ever
Fashion has become more widely accessible than ever. Mass-market brands like Uniqlo have high-end designers. Big-box stores such as Target sell out their one-off collections by rarefied names like Missoni. Reality TV serves up designer drama. So why is it such a rarity for designers to open their runway shows to the public?
Givenchy has announced that it is doing just that. Designer Riccardo Tisci will welcome regular folks to the debut of his spring 2016 womenswear collection during New York’s fashion week.
In any runway season, Givenchy's is one of the most anticipated presentations. The Paris-based label sparks trends, starts conversations and attracts a mob of celebrities. This season, Tisci is parachuting into Manhattan, where he will unveil his collection not just in front of editors and retailers but also to those anonymous outsiders who are enchanted by fashion, revel in its glamour and ultimately consume it.
The fashion crowd will access the show through a separate entrance and sit in its usual seats. But a couple of hundred spots will be reserved for local fashion students, and 820 seats will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.
The public has occasionally had a window onto the real-time machinations of fashion – big brands such as Gucci have live-streamed their shows, charity events have auctioned off seats along the runway. Some designers have presented their shows in quasi-public spaces, where anyone who happened to pass by might glimpse the official goings-on. But Givenchy is doling out invitations, reserving seats and welcoming the public. Come on down!
