On Tuesday, Giorgio Armani announced that he has cancelled the upcoming Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani men’s shows and Giorgio Armani Privé Haute Couture show that were planned for later this month, over concerns about rising COVID-19 infection rates across Europe.
The luxury brand was scheduled to showcase its Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani men’s AW22/23 collections in Milan on January 14 thru 18, and its Prive haute couture show in Paris on the 24th thru the 27th. In a statement, The Armani Group said: “This decision was made with great regret and following careful reflection in the light of the worsening epidemiological situation. As the designer has expressed on many occasions, the shows are crucial and irreplaceable occasions but the health and safety of both employees and the public must once again take priority.”
Armani is not the first to cancel shows over concerns about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Italian luxury brand Brunello Cucinelli has pulled out of Men’s Fashion week in Milan due to the pandemic. In a statement, Cucinelli said: “This decision was made after realizing and acknowledging the current moment that Italy and the rest of the world are currently experiencing. It was also made with a sense of responsibility, heading in a direction taken in recent months that we all hope can lead us as soon as possible to a normal life and relations.” Cucinelli’s three main sales campaign sites in Milan, New York and Shanghai will still operate this season with medical teams offering on-the-spot testing.
And last month, Frankfurt Fashion Week announced the postponement of its trade shows, which were due to take place as part of Frankfurt Fashion Week this month. The trade-visitor events will now take place in July 2022. Conferences, talks and panels will partly go ahead in reduced, hybrid form.
However, a number fashion events are still set to go ahead this month, with many brands remaining on their schedules.
In France, daily cases of COVID-19 rose to almost 300,000 this week. Face masks have been made mandatory in all enclosed public spaces. As of January 3rd, indoor events were limited to 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 people outdoors, and standing concerts have also been banned.
In spite of the elevated protocols, Men’s fashion week and the Prive Haute Couture show in Paris both still plan to welcome major fashion brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Loewe and Hermes. Paco Rabanne and Alaia are also set to unveil their ready-to-wear womenswear collections in Paris on January 23rd.
Italy’s new daily cases reached over 170,000 on Tuesday. The Italian Government has introduced a classification of regions based on white (minimum risk), yellow, orange and red (maximum risk) colour codes. Milan falls under yellow code, above minimum risk. Wearing face masks has been made mandatory both outdoors and indoors.
But for the moment, luxury brands including Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Fendi currently remain on Milan’s men’s fashion week agenda. And men’s fashion tradeshow Pitti Umo is still scheduled for January 11 thru 13 in Florence, Italy.
With the fashion week events fast approaching, it’s unclear to see whether other brands will follow in Giorgi Armani and Cucinelli’s footsteps and withdraw from in-person events.
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