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Paris Haute Couture Week is normally a riot of
runway shows where the fashion crowd congregate in sumptuous
locations. This year, COVID-19 means most live events are off.
Instead, many designers have turned to video to showcase their
collections for the week, which officially began on Monday and
runs until Jan. 28.
Fournie, a 45-year-old who runs his own couture label, spent
three days shooting a 9 minute and 30 second film in his Paris
workshop, starring himself, some of his staff, and three models.
"We designers have to reinvent ourselves endlessly," he said in
a break from filming. "We have to know how to sew, to design, to
manage social networks."
That meant moving into a new medium to present his collection
was not a big leap, he said.
"It's an incredible opportunity in our times to be able to
reinvent yourself during COVID, to be the director of your own
destiny, to stage your own universe."
The film features women dressed in goose feather outfits and
multicoloured organza fabric, moving through a fantasy world
with a Middle Eastern flavour. The majority of Fournie's clients
are from the Middle East.
Because of the global pandemic, customers want less extravagant
designs, because the gatherings where the outfits will be worn
these days are more modest and intimate, said the designer.
His staff too have had to adapt. After a client has visited to
try out an outfit, employees iron the dresses. "The heat
eliminates bacteria and viruses," said Lea Gelenan, one of
Fournie's senior staff.
(Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Jan Harvey)
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