The new face of Paris Fashion Week is digital.
With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online.
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The new face of Paris Fashion Week is digital.
Calling the move “brave,” he noted that “a great crew with you (is needed) to even imagine reinventing oneself through digital film.”
Fournie's eponymous fashion house is just one among dozens in Paris — and fashion capitals around the world — opting to show their designs in this way. It is usually much cheaper for the house than staging a show.
Model Angeliki Tsionou displays a creation by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
French designer Julien Fournie, right, gives instructions to the models, as general director Jean Paul Cauvin, left, looks on, during the shoot for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Models Angeliki Tsionou, Michaela Tomanova and Sheherazade Dakhlaoui, from left to right, display creations by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
French designer Julien Fournie attends an interview during the shoot for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
French designer Julien Fournie, center, gives instructions to decorators during the shoot for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Angeliki Tsionou takes a break during the shoot for Julien Fournie's Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Michaela Tomanova displays a creation by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Models Angeliki Tsionou, left Michaela Tomanova, right, display creations by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Michaela Tomanova displays a creation by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
French designer Julien Fournie gives instructions to the models during the shoot for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Angeliki Tsionou has her makeup retouched during the shoot for Julien Fournie's Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Michaela Tomanova displays a creation by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Michaela Tomanova displays a creation by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Angeliki Tsionou displays a creation by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
“At the start, I was asked to know how to draw. ... Now, I realize I also need to learn to become a filmmaker,” the designer said at a behind-the-scenes preview of his spring-summer 2021 couture movie filming.
French designer Julien Fournie gives instructions to the models during the shoot for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Calling the move “brave,” he noted that “a great crew with you (is needed) to even imagine reinventing oneself through digital film.”
In his video entitled “First Storm,” three young women are plunged into dreamlike environments. They are, of course, dressed in the strong architectural sleeves, sharp busts and elongated silhouette of the season, contrasting with the fluidity of Fournie’s chiffon dresses.
Fournie said the impact of the virus has led him to question “whether fashion shows were really necessary” in the first place.
French designer Julien Fournie, right, gives instructions to the models during the shoot for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Fournie's eponymous fashion house is just one among dozens in Paris — and fashion capitals around the world — opting to show their designs in this way. It is usually much cheaper for the house than staging a show.
Other houses have adapted to the pandemic by streaming live or pre-recorded runway shows at a specific time online.
The fashion industry, along with the retail industry in general, has been hard-hit by travel restrictions and store closings due to the pandemic.
Models Michaela Tomanova, Angeliki Tsionou, and Sheherazade Dakhlaoui, from left to right, display creations by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Angeliki Tsionou displays a creation by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
French designer Julien Fournie, right, gives instructions to the models, as general director Jean Paul Cauvin, left, looks on, during the shoot for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Models Angeliki Tsionou, Michaela Tomanova and Sheherazade Dakhlaoui, from left to right, display creations by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
French designer Julien Fournie attends an interview during the shoot for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
French designer Julien Fournie, center, gives instructions to decorators during the shoot for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Angeliki Tsionou takes a break during the shoot for Julien Fournie's Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Michaela Tomanova displays a creation by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Models Angeliki Tsionou, left Michaela Tomanova, right, display creations by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Michaela Tomanova displays a creation by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
French designer Julien Fournie gives instructions to the models during the shoot for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Angeliki Tsionou has her makeup retouched during the shoot for Julien Fournie's Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Michaela Tomanova displays a creation by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Michaela Tomanova displays a creation by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Model Angeliki Tsionou displays a creation by Julien Fournie for his Haute Couture SpringSummer 2021 fashion collection for a digital presentation of the fashion week, in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. With shows taking place behind closed doors due to the virus pandemic, some designers such as Julien Fournie are becoming versatile: Getting their designs out to the public by making a film of their collection and streaming it online. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)