Nicholas Ghesquire’s latest collection for Louis Vuitton is where historical opulence and glamour meet street and contemporary dressing. Presented at the Louvre’s Passage Richelieu on Oct. 5, 2021, his spring 2022 pieces, with reimagined panniers a la Marie Antoinette and ensembles made of the lushest fabrics, “is an invitation to the grand ball of time,” as it said. But things took a dramatic turn when a protester came storming down the runway.
A climate activist joined the models on the catwalk bearing a banner that says, “Overconsumption = Extinction.” Under it were three climate activist groups: the French chapters of Extinction Rebellion, Youth for Climate, and Friends of the Earth. Upon reaching the end of the runway, the protester was seen, in various tweets, being tackled and carried off by the security.
A protestor got into the line-up at #LouisVuitton with a message for — well, everyone. Later, security guards tackled her and carried her off. pic.twitter.com/gpCy3XrVRb
— Vanessa Friedman (@VVFriedman) October 5, 2021
Outside the Louvre, more action happened as a swarm of protesters gathered, with them was a big black banner that said, “Notre planète brule, la mode regarde ailleurs (Our planet is on fire, fashion looks elsewhere),” and a red carpet where they did their own fashion show with models wearing gas masks.
Par contre le @Gouvernement :
mise tout sur le recyclage... alors qu'utiliser 40% de textile recyclés dans les vêtements ne permettra de réduire les émissions que de 6%...
a mis en place un nouvel avatar du #GreenWashing : le Fashion Pact, en connivence avec @KeringGroup pic.twitter.com/hwoJvTPZTM
— Extinction Rebellion France (@xrFrance) October 5, 2021
“It is urgent to ACT to reduce our carbon emissions! The fashion industry accounts for up to 8.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Now the @Gouvernement had opportunities to adopt ambitious regulations on this sector...but did nothing,” Extinction Rebellion France said in a tweet, urging French President Emmanuel Macron and viewers to take action.
Louis Vuitton is under the Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), a French conglomerate specializing in luxury goods. Months ago, it announced that it is set to launch a facility dedicated to researching sustainable production.
For the longest time, it has been a tradition for Louis Vuitton to close Paris Fashion Week.