It is definitely out of the question when it comes to using physical runways, no thanks to the novel coronavirus. However, the scourge of COVID-19 is not enough to stop some of the biggest names in the fashion industry from modeling for a good cause.
The First ‘Self-filmed Fashion Show’
Stars including Kim Kardashian West, Hailey Bailey, Adriana Lima, Karlie Kloss, Winnie Harlow, Ashley Graham, Irina Shayk, and even more will make a stunning appearance in ‘Fashion Unites’. The fashion show dubbed the first ‘Self-filmed Fashion Show,’ streams on YouTube Friday at 4 p.m. ET.
How the Virtual Fashion Show will Go Down
Models will wear several lovely and well-knit pieces from their own closets, styled remotely by Carine Roitfield, founder of CR Fashion Book, and her team. Derek Blasberg, YouTube’s Head of Fashion, will be the host.
Roitfield, in a press release, stated: “As we face times of great uncertainty, our support for one another is more important than ever. Embracing fashion as the creative expression through which to support the health and safety of our global communities, we hope this show can offer a small moment of hope, inspiration, and uplifting connection.
“A modest contribution as our world unites to weather the storm of this pandemic together collectively.”
The Aim of the Virtual Fashion Show
The goal of the fashion show is to raise awareness for the amfAR Fund to Fight COVID-19 research efforts. According to Roitfield, via the press release, along with CR as well as other participating creatives, made personal monetary donations to kick-start the initiative.
And all the participants of the virtual fashion show are taking part ‘pro bono.’
Before the Coronavirus Shut Down the World
Before the novel coronavirus forced the entire world to shut down essential activities, the fashion industry went ahead with Paris Fashion Weeks and Milan in late February and early March.
The fashion show in Paris went on uninterrupted for the most part; however, the show in Milan was just coming up when the novel coronavirus began to hit Italy. And this led some of the designers to change course while a few others carried on as usual as some of the members of the audience wore precautionary masks.
For instance, Giorgio Armani held his Milan runway show behind closed doors in a last-minute change over COVID-19 concerns. And later on, the fashion house had to stream the entire event from inside the empty showroom.
Giorgio Armani later released a statement at the time about the decision to stream the show instead of permitting a live show: “The decision was taken to safeguard the well-being of all his invited guests by not having them attend crowded spaces.”
In the streamed runway show, Armani models walked across a dark background, giving contrast to teal, pink, and gray silky printed skirts and trousers while black velvet jackets that blended in with the darkness.
The show ended with a “message of love for China” where the coronavirus first broke out.
Meanwhile, big stars including Janelle Monae, Kim Kardashian West, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Kaia Gerber, Usher, Katie Holmes, Shailene Woodley, and Rami Malek turned up for Paris shows which spanned from February 25 to March 1.
