COVID-19 had spread across the world and, as of April 4, there are now reportedly 1,089,479 cases and 58,467 deaths globally. For the fashion industry, the virus impacted womenswear AW 2020 shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris, disrupting schedules and sending fashionistas fleeing.
As a result of the worldwide attempt to slow the virus, designers are cancelling and rethinking their shows, which may lead to questions about the traditional fashion week format itself in the longterm. “In a time of crisis, we have to think about a radical reset,” Vogue editor Anna Wintour told The Times.
It’s not just runway shows either that have been impacted. Around the world, tech conferences such as SXSW and music festivals, including the Ultra Music Festival and Coachella, and other major events including the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, have also been postponed. For your information here is a rundown of are all the fashion-related events that have so far been affected.
Beijing Fashion Week
Beijing’s China Fashion Week was scheduled to run from March 25 to March 31.
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Film Festival was scheduled for May 12 to 23. Organisers released a statement on Twitter on March 19, stating the festival may be postponed to the end of June and beginning of July this year.
“As soon as the development of the French and international health situation will allow us to assess the real possibility, we will make our decision known, in accordance with our ongoing consultation with the French government and Cannes’ City Hall as well as with the festival’s board members, film industry professionals and all the partners of the event”.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards
The Council of Fashion Designers of America announced on March 18 it is cancelling its upcoming CFDA Awards, scheduled to be held at the New York Public Library on June 8.
Copenhagen Fashion Summit
The annual sustainability event released a statement confirming now postponed until October. “While this was certainly a difficult decision, we believe it is the only responsible and sensible thing to do, taking the global health uncertainties and authority recommendations into consideration. The health and safety of everyone on our team, including the numerous participants who come from across the globe to Copenhagen each May to convene and advance sustainability in fashion is our first priority”.
iD International Emerging Designer Awards
Uncertainty around international travel coupled with applicants from 17 countries prompted organisers of the iD International Emerging Designer Awards 2020 to move the show online.
Melbourne Fashion Festival
The Virgin Melbourne Fashion Festival, which began on March 4, cancelled the remainder of its programming on March 13.
“In the interest of the health and safety of our partners, participants, team, volunteers and patrons, the festival has made the decision to cancel all remaining events, effective immediately as a precautionary containment measure,” said event publicist, AMPR, in a statement.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia (MBFWA)
Australia Fashion Week’s 25th-anniversary edition has been cancelled. The event was scheduled from May 11 to 15 at Sydney’s Carriageworks venue.
Met Gala
Anna Wintour confirmed on March 16 that the Met Gala has been postponed from it’s scheduled May 4 date and no future date was offered.
“One day that will not arrive on schedule will be the opening of the Costume Institute’s exhibition, ‘About Time.’ Due to the unavoidable and responsible decision by the Metropolitan Museum to close its doors, ‘About Time,’ and the opening night gala, will be postponed to a later date,” she wrote in a piece penned for Vogue.com. “In the meantime, we will give you a preview of this extraordinary exhibition in our forthcoming May issue.”
Milan Fashion Week AW 2020
Giorgio Armani barred his AW 2020 runway show, opting instead to post a video of the show on the brand’s website and social media platforms.
Milan Men’s Fashion Week Spring 2021
Italy’s Camera Nazionale della Moda announced on March 27 that its
SS 2021 Milan Men’s Fashion Week will be postponed from June 19 to 23 and will now be presented during Milan Fashion Week from Sept. 22 to 28.
New York Fashion Week Resort 2021 and Men’s Fashion Week
NYFW Resort 2021 is cancelled and that Men’s Fashion Week in June will be postponed.
New Zealand Fashion Week
NZFW announced the indefinite postponement of the 2020 event as a result of COVID-19.
“We want to make the right decision that supports the wonderful creative industry, designers and partners who are very close to us. Individually, many of them are hurting already — and I wish each one of them the best during this trying time,” said founder Dame Pietra Stewart.
Paris Men’s Fashion Week and Couture Week
The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, French fashion’s governing body, is cancelling Paris Men’s Fashion Week from June 23 to 28 and Couture Week that was scheduled for July 5 to 9.
Paris Fashion Week AW 2020
Agnès B., A.P.C. and Rosie Assoulin all cancelled their shows. Chinese fashion brands Masha Ma, Shiatzy Chen, Uma Wang, Jarel Zhang, Calvin Luo and Maison Mai also cancelled their shows.
Resort 2021 Shows
A majority of design houses have cancelled their international resort 2021 runway shows, including Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Hermès, Max Mara, Prada and Versace.
Sao Paolo Fashion Week
Sao Paolo Fashion Week has cancelled its spring 2020 edition, scheduled to run from April 24 to 28.
Shanghai Fashion Week
Shanghai Fashion Week was postponed from its scheduled March 26 date. However, organizers decided to move the event online, creating a virtual fashion week instead. Over 150 designers and brands live-streamed over 1,000 products from their newest collections, reaching 2.5 million over the three-hour opening session alone. For many designers, this showcase was a gateway for massive exposure and the perfect avenue to be discovered by new customers.
Additionally, this innovative approach was good news for the average viewer. Not only could they experience sitting front row at a fashion show, but live-streaming also brought an additional change this season: instant communication with their favourite designers. Viewers were able to ask live questions on issues such as styling and fabrics and the designers were able to engage and make instantaneous responses.
Sustainable Future for Fashion Conference
The British Department for International Trade postponed the Sustainable Future for Fashion event, initially scheduled for February 28 in Paris.
Tokyo Fashion Week
It was revealed on March 2 that Tokyo Fashion Week, scheduled to run from March 16 to March 21, has been cancelled.
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