Paris Fashion Week Mens Goes Digital for Spring Summer 2021

In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, the anticipated Paris Fashion Week Mens debuts show us how accessible high fashion has the potential to be. What is normally a week of exclusive runway shows and presentations turned into a collection of creative shorts, animations, and interactive videos presenting upcoming collections.

Kicking off Paris Fashion Week Men’s was Hermes with its Spring / Summer 2021 collection released in video format. Filmed at the Hermes headquarters in Pantin, the video portrayed Véronique Nichanian’s designs in a new, modern way that enables us to get a closer look at the details and designs, as if we were in the headquarters with them.

Styles from Hermes SS21 Men’s Collection

Following a similar suit was the Louis Vuitton Spring / Summer 2021 Men’s collection which made its debut as an animated short titled “The Adventures of Zooom With Friends”. The animation showcases otherworldly animated figures whose aesthetic was what you'd expect to see on an acid trip.

With a splendor of colors and vibrance matching that of Virgil Abloh’s previous collections, the video does an incredible job of inspiring imagination, fantasy, and anticipation for what the upcoming line has in store. Creative director of menswear Virgil Abloh will be following up this video with a debut of the collection in Asia on August 6th. 

Scene from ‘Zooom with Friends’, courtesy of Louis Vuitton.

Last, but definitely not least, on our list of notable digital debuts is the JW Anderson Spring / Summer 2021 Collection. The team at JW Anderson sent out boxes filled with fabric swatches, photographs of the SS21 looks, and pressed flowers that gave recipients multiple ways to experience the upcoming JW Anderson men’s collection. 

Styles from JW Anderson SS21 Men’s Collection

Jonathan Anderson personally unveiled his SS21 collections in a video that walked recipients through the contents of their boxes and what they would find inside. His ability to appeal to the senses and providing a look, feel, and touch that isn’t standard to traditional runway shows makes this SS21 reveal unique and beautiful in its own way. 

While the world is nowhere near through with a pandemic, the creativity of fashion has yet to disappoint with its ability to continue bringing people together. This shift to digital fashion shows, short films, and inside-the-box releases is a welcome change, as they enable people to feel closer to the brands they love. Whether these new formats will stay beyond the pandemic is uncertain, but there is a chance that the world of fashion and runway has just been changed forever.