PARIS — The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, French fashion’s governing body, has moved forward the dates of the autumn 2024 edition of Paris Couture Week to avoid a clash with preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games within the French capital next 12 months.

Billed as the largest event ever organized in France, the Games will transform town’s iconic landmarks into sporting venues, with plans to construct a volleyball stadium on the foot of the Eiffel Tower and to host BMX and skateboard competitions on Place de la Concorde, amongst others.

Nevertheless it threatens to disrupt other major cultural events like music festivals, triggering fears that fashion shows, and auxiliary events including showrooms and presentations, could possibly be impacted too.

In a joint interview, Bruno Pavlovsky, president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, and Pascal Morand, its executive president, detailed among the measures the organization is taking to proof its calendar against the forecast disruption stemming from the Games, which can monopolize town’s venues and security forces for several months.

“Everyone seems to be committed to making sure that the Olympic Games are a world success,” Pavlovsky said, noting that mock-ups suggested that holding the event in town will make for some arresting images. “It’s going to be quite breathtaking and extraordinary. Having said that, the truth is that this comes with huge security challenges and obligations that should be met.”

The federation has develop into adept at coping with challenges, from major incidents just like the 2015 terrorist attacks and anti-government protests in 2018, to scheduling clashes with regular large-scale events just like the Paris Marathon and the Gay Pride parade.  

Ahead of the Olympic Games, which can run from July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024, and the Paralympic Games, from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8, 2024, it’s coordinating its efforts with the Paris police, City Hall, the Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee and the Interministerial Delegation for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“There are fewer unexpected elements on this instance, but it surely requires more preparation, so the main target has shifted towards anticipation and rationalization,” said Morand. “The extent of complexity is larger.”

The federation is working with authorities to attract up a listing of the 200 spaces that sometimes host fashion events and whether or not they will be used next summer.

“Many of the usual venues shall be taken over by the Olympic Games, whether to host journalists or competitions. Our job now’s to search out the locations where we’ll have the opportunity to host men’s and high fashion shows, knowing that we’ve the support of the competent authorities,” said Pavlovsky, who’s president of fashion and president of Chanel SAS.

The federal government has a robust incentive to guard the style sector, which represents 154 billion euros in direct turnover and generates 1 million jobs in France, in accordance with a study published by the Institut Français de la Mode in 2018.

The federation, meanwhile, is keen to guard the repute of Paris because the capital of fashion. 

“We insisted that the high fashion shows be allowed to happen, because the chance is that if people don’t feel welcome in Paris, they’ll go and show elsewhere. That would potentially destroy the work we’ve been doing with Pascal over the previous few years to make sure these events in Paris are unique and powerful, so we couldn’t take that risk,” Pavlovsky said.

As a way to allow all participants to make arrangements, the federation due to this fact decided to publish its 2024 dates early. The lads’s fashion weeks will run from Jan. 16 to 21, and from June 18 to 23; women’s fashion weeks will happen from Feb. 26 to March 5, and from Sept. 23 to Oct. 1; while the high fashion shows are scheduled for Jan. 22 to 25, and June 24 to 27.

Normally, every week separates the boys’s shows and high fashion week in summer.

“The strong message we’re sending by providing these dates can be to clarify to everyone that showrooms and presentations in July, including those for related activities like high jewelry, shall be virtually unattainable,” Pavlovsky said.

“It’s not only the 4 days of couture shows which are being moved forward, it’s the entire calendar of activities in Paris — which kicks off with men’s and ends with the July 14 public holiday — that could have to be expedited,” he added. “The fact is that from July 1 onwards, the [Olympic] organization will definitively take over all venues.”

In consequence, Chanel, which is the exclusive private sponsor of the renovation of the Grand Palais, doesn’t expect to return there for its shows until October 2024.

With accommodation prone to be in brief supply, participants are also advised to book their travel and hotels early. “We’ve one other 14 months to go. I hope it can be sufficient for everybody to get organized,” Pavlovsky said.

At present, there aren’t any plans for the French fashion industry to be involved within the opening ceremony, the executives said.

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s biggest luxury conglomerate, on Thursday confirmed rumors that it’s in talks to develop into a partner of the organizing committee of the 2024 Olympics. French retailer Carrefour is a premium partner, while sporting goods retailer Decathlon and sports brand Le Coq Sportif are among the many official partners.

Stéphane Ashpool, who was mentored by Pavlovsky after winning the ANDAM Prize in 2015 together with his streetwear label Pigalle Paris, has been named artistic director in control of the French Olympic and Paralympic team uniforms for the Paris Games. Le Coq Sportif will manufacture the performance wear.

“I believe it’s great that Stéphane was chosen. He totally deserves it and what I’ve seen of the gathering is amazing,” Pavlovsky said. “I’m delighted that he was in a position to try this because he’s genuinely talented and what’s more, he’s at all times been on the crossroads of sport and fashion.”