The big fashion weeks of London, Paris, Milan and New York are returning with aplomb, after a couple of years of being COVID-affected, and demand for furniture rental is high.
However, the extent to which they come back to the level of popularity and influence seen pre-pandemic, remains to be seen.
Fashion weeks and shows, and catwalk events, by their very nature, do attract some controversy, but perhaps today more so than ever.
For a start, traditionally, models have been picked for their wafer-thin or chiselled looks, assuming that this is the model of perfect beauty. However, we all know that this is not necessarily the case, and the world we live in today is much more inclusive, and rightly so. Fashion shows, today, therefore, will no doubt be highlighting the beauty of oversized people along with those who were previously deemed to be ‘less than perfect’ but, who we all know, are indeed perfect in their own right.
By the same token, the world has moved on, not because of COVID, but because we are all becoming more aware of the need to live our lives sustainably. Are the days of fashion shows introducing the latest high street fashions and then us all rushing out to the shops to buy it, gone? OK, so there’s more chance of us going online to buy the latest fashions rather than going to the shopping centre, but you see the point. Traditionally, it was design it fast, manufacturer it cheaply, get it to the shelves, and then, as a consumer, once it goes out of fashion, then it can be disposed of.
We’d like to think, without preaching, that today’s fashion-conscious consumer does have one eye on sustainability and being environmentally friendly, and also engages with the ‘reuse, repair and recycle’ concept. If you think about the carbon footprint involved in producing the latest garment in the Far East, shipping it to the UK, and then distributing it to high street shops, how can it cost so little? We all have to up our game.
There’s no doubt that fashion weeks, however, are vital to the fashion industry, and these are high profile events.
Due to the nature of these temporary events, fashion show furniture rental is always popular, and this is usually the modern and contemporary furniture styles such as ghost chairs to go alongside the catwalk.
That said, of course, the catwalk is just the ‘front end’ of the show, with behind the scenes and backstage areas also needing furniture rental for events. This might include lounge furniture such as sofas and armchairs, make up mirrors, garment rails, and even modular pole and drape to section off certain areas such as hair and make-up, and also provide temporary changing areas for the models.
And let’s not forget that fashion shows are also social occasions, and a great opportunity for networking. You’ll need a temporary event bar, glassware hire, poseur tables and stools, and other furniture rental for catwalk shows, to furnish your party area in the most stylish way possible.
So, let’s see how fashion shows return. Will they be as big and as high profile as previously, or will designers increasingly turn to virtual events and the use of social media such as TikTok to launch their season’s offering? Suffice to say that the demand for furniture rental for these types of event remains strong.
Only time will tell…
