Paris, France
Paris was always the mother city for fashion for decades together and continues to be one till date. As the saying goes, there’s no beating the French with their fashion sense and taste for fine wines. Paris is home to some of the world’s leading fashion schools— Istituto Marangoni, Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale, ESMOD-Paris, Studio Bercot & the Paris College of Art, to name a few. Secondly, designers like Coco Chanel, YSL or Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Christian Dior, Rene Lacoste, Pierre Cardin and Christian Louboutin are synonymous with ladies fashions the world over. Paris also launched Elle, the world’s biggest fashion magazine in 1945. The grandest fashion fair of the world is also held in Paris biannually —the Paris Fashion Week. Parisians truly are fashion conscious and the world eagerly waits for what the city is going to produce!
Paris also launched Elle, the world’s biggest fashion magazine in 1945. The grandest fashion fair of the world is also held in Paris biannually —the Paris Fashion Week. Parisians truly are fashion conscious and the world eagerly waits for what the city is going to produce!
Milan, Italy
Milan has always been an epicenter of fashion, particularly men’s fashion. The Milan Fashion Week plays host to leading Italian designers like Gucci, D& G, Prada & Roberto Cavalli who are world famous for their master craftsmanship and quality creations, which are showcased biannually during February & March as also September & October. Other big names like Armani, Versace, Alessandra Facchinetti, Gianfranco Ferrè and Stella Jean also originated from this artistic city. Some of the most well-known fashion schools like Istituto Marangoni and the Accademia Koefia are also based in Milan.
Other big names like Armani, Versace, Alessandra Facchinetti, Gianfranco Ferrè and Stella Jean also originated from this artistic city. Some of the most well-known fashion schools like Istituto Marangoni and the Accademia Koefia are also based in Milan.
London, UK
London has steadfastly held on to its reputation always as a global fashion capital because of its sheer innovativeness in creating funky designs. After all, London was where the famous Mod movement started. Moreover, some great names in world fashion like Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney and Christopher Kane owe their roots to London.
The city is also home to the world’s best fashion school. You also have the London College of Fashion and the Royal College of Art which too, have some big names on their alumni. The London Fashion Week, one of the grandest fashion shows is also held here in September and February every year.
Brussels, Belgium
Brussels has of late, started attracting attention as a budding fashion city of Europe. After all, Brussels was where the internationally famous style icon, Audrey Hepburn was born and brought up and who made Wayfarer sunglasses, black dresses and white pearls the symbols of high fashion in the Fifties and early Sixties. In terms of fashion, Brussels always dares to be different. A majority of its designers, being realists are indulging in absolutely avant-garde creations.
Take for example, the creations of Dries Van Noten, a Brussels-based, Flemish designer who’s making waves with his imaginative, rich and somewhat eccentric designs. Then there’s Raf Simons, who’s currently the Creative Director of Christian Dior. Moreover, Kris Van Assche happens to be also of Belgian origin and Creative Director of Dior’s Homme collections. Brussels is attracting global attention as a promising platform for all nascent labels. The La Cambre Fashion School is one of the best in the world and its Madifesto fashion festival will soon be regarded as one of the most major events in the fashion world.
Munich, Germany
Bavaria’s capital, Munich encourages the fashion industry generously. There is great buying power and extensive infrastructure for developing the fashion industry that caters to Austria, northern Italy and Switzerland. The recently restructured textile industry of Munich has added to the growth of its fashion industry and the city is now a leading fashion spot of Germany. Grand trade fairs and ultra-modern centers for placing orders have also enhanced Munich’s image as a growing fashion base.
Leading designers like Susanne Wiebe are making their mark while Escada, Bogner and Etienne Aigner started in Munich. The three main fashion streets of Munich, the Maximilianstrasse, Briennerstrasse and Theatinerstrasse are great shopping venues as are the three fashion schools in the city which are effectively training young designers. Moreover, some of the most well-known fashion journals like Vogue Deutschland, Cosmopolitan, InStyle and Elle are headquartered here.
Cannes, France
Cannes always has been and will continue to be as much a fashion hub as a film center. How to the rich and famous, Cannes is famous for its red carpet affairs which turn out to be great showcases for the fashion industry. The Cannes Film Festival, for example, has some of the world’s top film stars showcasing dresses and looks that usually stun onlookers. Dresses made for the red carpet combined with a typical cocktail and the so-called ‘off-duty’ looks. Cannes offers it all. Long train dresses, layered tulle, flowing satin skirts and hi-lo hems with some mind-boggling patterns and embellishments are the highlights. Key colors include nude, silver, lilac and canary or golden yellow.
Dresses made for the red carpet combined with a typical cocktail and the so-called ‘off-duty’ looks. Cannes offers it all. Long train dresses, layered tulle, flowing satin skirts and hi-lo hems with some mind-boggling patterns and embellishments are the highlights. Key colors include nude, silver, lilac and canary or golden yellow.
Monaco
The Monaco Fashion Show is an early event that is awaited by the who’s who of the global fashion industry every year. The city. Known for its glitz and glamor, is home to the Monegasque Fashion Chamber that promotes new fashion talents. The collections shown are in 3 separate categories: Swimwear, Couture universe and Young Designers Universe. The creations exhibited are greatly diverse because designers of separate nationalities participate. Contemporary dramatic designs combine with the traditional, making it a feast for the eyes. A unique feature is that local designers tend to project the Monegasque way of life in their designs.
The creations exhibited are greatly diverse because designers of separate nationalities participate. Contemporary dramatic designs combine with the traditional, making it a feast for the eyes. A unique feature is that local designers tend to project the Monegasque way of life in their designs.
Ibiza, Spain
Ibiza is also starting to make its mark in the ever-changing and fast-paced European fashion industry. Designer’s Best, its well-known fashion destination bears ample testimony to that. In Ibiza, you get the avant-garde creations of Manish Arora and Alexander McQueen. It was in Ibiza that the now famous Swedish designer, Ida Ayu first showed her collection as did the innovative designer from Spain, Carla Cid de Diego, known for her very artistic handbags and corsets.
The Spanish artist, Willy Marques, a local resident has started designing t-shirts which are fast gaining popularity. In another decade, Ibiza is expected to be a major point on the European fashion map.
Rome
Rome, like Paris, has always remained in the topmost echelons of fashion for decades together. You have some great fashion houses that cater to world celebrities and these include, Valentino, Gucci and Fendi which started here. The area close to the city’s famous Spanish Steps is home to some of the biggest fashion salons in the world.
Rome is where the famous fashion school— Accademia di Costume e di Moda was started in 1964 and which caters largely to the global film industry as well. You also have the Accademia Koefia, the Istituto Europeo di Design and the Accademia Altieri Moda Arte here. The Rome Fashion Week is held biannually in July and January.
