The global pandemic has wreaked havoc on a multitude of industries, but none more so than on the travel and fashion industries. However, despite Covid-19 restrictions, the French fashion industry has fought back by filming a virtual aviation-inspired fashion shoot at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Designer Pierre Balmain found an original way to showcase the latest men’s and women’s autumn/winter collection for 2021-2022 using Air France’ unused maintenance hangars during Paris Fashion Week 2021. The aim of the collection was to invoke a sense of freedom that only travel can bring. Models swapped the traditional catwalk for an airplane runway to “strut their stuff” around an Airbus A350 and also had the opportunity to walk along the wing of a Boeing 777. The inspiring fashion video was directed by film producer Valentin Petit and included a mesmerising backdrop of the moon, leaving viewers with a promise to “dream big” and look towards the future.
Aviation-inspired fashion
The collection displayed a range of aeronautic-inspired fashion and aviation-style uniforms such as leather flying jackets, long navy pilot coats, olive green jumpsuits and casual jumpers with nautical stripe patterns. Quirky accessories affectionately represented everyday items used in air travel and included chunky suitcases, neck-pillow earrings and clutches in the shape of paper airplanes. The collection also presented elegant dresses and stylish men’s evening suits, to embrace the glamour of the departure lounge.
The two worlds of fashion and aviation came together to present and encapsulate French sophistication before a global audience. Air France was the perfect airline choice for the shoot since the carrier has always been an advocate of the finest fashion houses and a pioneer for the art of French-style travel. Also, in 1975, Air France’s first female pilot, Danièle Décuré, wore a uniform designed by Balmain.
Women in aviation
The clothing range fully celebrated the role of women within the aviation industry. This sentiment was even more poignant since it took place on Monday 8 March, also known as International Women’s Day, with the collection demonstrating the power and strength of women whilst still promoting femininity.
The aviation-inspired fashion shoot was an innovative move for the fashion house that will undoubtedly give a much needed boost in revenues to these two sectors, placing all eyes back on the future of the fashion and the aviation industry.
Across the world, there are still many restrictions on air travel, except for essential journeys. This has left many of us with a strong desire to return to travel and desperately seek an escape to beautiful far-off destinations. Although we may be staying put for now, it doesn’t mean we can’t still look to the future and reignite a sense of adventure through fashion.
Olivier Rousteing, Creative Director of Balmain fashion house commented, “I don’t know where we’re going, but I do know that we are going somewhere. The point is not the destination but the actual going; the journey, the leaving—and the escape.”
Rousteing concluded by saying, “…today, as we move forward, we always need to dream big, remain optimistic, and consider all possibilities”.
What do you think about Air France allowing the Balmain Fashion House to use its facilities to film a fashion shoot? Let us your thoughts in the comments below.
