French fashion federation issues call for tolerance, amid demands Paris ban Russian designers

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Mar 1, 2022

The Fédération de la Haute couture et de la Mode, French high fashion’s governing body, has issued a call for collective emancipation across our societies, as demands emerged calling for the banning of Russian designers from the Paris catwalk season.

On Monday, as the first shows took place during this month’s eight-day Paris Fashion Week, the industry’s governing body issue a call for tolerance.
 
“As the greater fashion family gathers for Paris Fashion Week, war has brutally hit Europe and plunged the Ukrainian people into fear and upheaval. Creation is based on principles of freedom, under any circumstances. And fashion has always contributed to individual and collective emancipation and expression across our societies,” read a statement from Ralph Toledano, president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode.

“Given the present context, the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode encourages you to experience the shows of the coming days with solemnity, and in reflection of these dark hours,” Toledano added.
 
Historically, Paris has practiced the most open borders of all the big four fashion capitals that includes London, Milan and New York. However, the invasion of Ukraine has resulted in the banning of Russian athletes and artists from the next World Cup and the Eurovision song contest, and the cancellation of Formula One races in Russia and the Champions League final in St Petersburg.
 
FashionNetwork.com has also began receiving emails calling for Russian designers to be delisted from the official French fashion calendar.
 
“We, the people of Ukraine, demand the removal of the Russian designer Ulyana Sergeenko from the High Fashion Federation,” read one email from writer Yana Aleks.

Sergeenko, a couturier, shows during couture week in early July. The current Paris ready-to-wear season includes only one Russian designer, Valentin Yudashkin. However, as he is only presenting a digital video and not a proper live runway show, the Fédération indicated that they plan no further action.