Paris Fashion Week Melts Under Record-Breaking Heatwave
News Desk
Paris: Europe’s most intense heatwave has disrupted Paris Fashion Week, exposing the fashion industry’s struggle to adapt to increasingly extreme weather conditions.
Sweltering temperatures caused air conditioning failures at several show venues, while shortages of drinking water left guests uncomfortable and raised concerns about whether the global fashion industry is prepared for a warming climate.
Luxury brands introduced various measures to help guests cope with the heat, including serving iced Evian water on silver trays, distributing ice packs, and installing misting machines. Despite these efforts, many attendees said the conditions remained unbearable.
British fashion critic Ben Freeman described the experience as overwhelming. “I thought I was going to faint,” he said, adding that the heat inside some venues was extremely difficult to endure.
While organisers attempted to keep audiences cool, models were still required to walk the runway wearing heavy leather, neoprene and wool garments, highlighting the contradiction between seasonal fashion collections and rising global temperatures.
Fashion student Thomas Levy questioned the practicality of the designs. “I don’t understand how the models walked in this intense heat wearing leather and heavy wool coats. It seems designers are only trying to cool the venue, not rethink the clothes themselves,” he said.
In response to the extreme weather, several major fashion houses, including Dior, rescheduled their runway shows from midday to 9 a.m. to avoid peak temperatures. However, inadequate air conditioning at some venues continued to leave guests struggling with the heat, and several reportedly felt unwell.
Fashion designer Jonathan Anderson criticised the industry’s calendar, saying it no longer reflects climate realities.
He noted that although the collections are presented as Spring/Summer fashion, they often feature heavy winter garments because many luxury consumers spend most of their time in air-conditioned environments.
Some designers attempted to incorporate the heat into their creative presentations. Saint Laurent used fog and steam effects while showcasing lightweight, flowing garments.
However, the collection also included heavy leather pieces, underscoring the industry’s ongoing tension between style and climate practicality.
Pascal Morand, head of France’s Haute Couture and Fashion Federation, said organisers are following the French government’s heatwave guidelines and are working to make Fashion Week safer as weather conditions become more extreme.
The heatwave has affected more than just the fashion industry. Paris’s iconic Louvre Museum has also been forced to adjust its opening hours, as many of its historic buildings were not designed to withstand prolonged periods of extreme heat.
