Paris Fashion Week Schedule Unveiled & LVMH Sales Dip in This Week’s Top Fashion News

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Summary

  • Paris Fashion Week SS26 RTW (September 29 – October 7) will feature a barrage of creative director debuts, including Matthieu Blazy at Chanel, Jonathan Anderson at Dior women’s, and Pierpaolo Piccioli at Balenciaga. This season comes amidst a global luxury slowdown, which saw LVMH miss H12 forecasts due to declining sales.
  • Fashion continues to infiltrate cinema, as Sofia Coppola’s “Marc by Sofia” documentary on Marc Jacobs is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival, and Jonathan Anderson is confirmed to design costumes for Luca Guadagnino’s AI film, “Artificial.”
  • In New York City, Willy Chavarria became the first fashion designer to be named an ACLU Artist Ambassador, and Thom Browne opened a new outpost in the Upper East Side.

Paris Fashion Week to Host Historic Roster of Debuts

During the period from September 29 to October 7 next year, Paris Fashion Week will feature an exceptional number of new creative directors making their debut for the Spring 2026 ready-to-wear collection for women. Some of these notable debuts include Matthieu Blazy at Chanel on October 6, Jonathan Anderson unveiling his first Dior women’s line on October 1, and Pierpaolo Piccioli’s debut at Balenciaga on October 4.

In addition to established designers stepping into fresh positions, we have Miguel Castro Freitas at Mugler, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez at Loewe, Glenn Martens taking over Maison Margiela’s ready-to-wear line, and Duran Lantink reviving Jean Paul Gaultier on the ready-to-wear calendar. As excitement grows for these groundbreaking debuts, industry experts are counting on innovative ideas to breathe new life into the luxury fashion world.

LVMH Fashion & Leather Goods Sales Fall 9% in First Half of 2025

2025’s first half results showed that LVMH failed to meet analyst predictions, reporting a 22% decrease in net profit and a 4% overall revenue decline to €39.8 billion compared to the previous year. The most significant division, Fashion and Leather Goods (which includes Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Loro Piana brands), experienced a 9% drop in sales. After an initial post-pandemic boost in performance, the group, along with competitors Kering and OTB Group, have been impacted by a broader decrease in luxury spending across the industry.

This summer, Hermès overtook LVMH as the most valuable luxury stock due to recent advancements. However, the company has encountered some unfavorable press this year, with issues such as labor exploitation scandals at Loro Piana, data breaches at Louis Vuitton, and cultural appropriation debates at Dior. Additionally, consumer backlash over price increases and low consumer confidence are negatively impacting sales, suggesting that the slowdown in the luxury market may continue.

Sofia Coppola to Premiere Marc Jacobs Documentary

As a devoted admirer, I’m thrilled to share that Sofia Coppola, the brilliant mind behind “Priscilla (2023)”, is set to unveil a documentary titled “Marc by Sofia” at the Venice Film Festival in September. This 97-minute masterpiece, named in tribute to the cherished and discontinued Marc by Marc Jacobs line, will grace our screens between August 27 and September 6, outside of competition.

This documentary follows Jacob’s journey in the fashion industry, providing a unique glimpse into his long-term creative partnership with Coppola that dates back to 1992, following Jacob’s grunge collection for Perry Ellis. The film showcases seldom-seen historical footage, spotlighting their collaborations, ranging from Jacobs casting Coppola in early campaigns to their projects during his tenure at Louis Vuitton and most recently at Heaven.

Willy Chavarria Is the First Fashion Designer to Become an ACLU Artist Ambassador

Willy Chavarria has been chosen as the inaugural Fashion Designer Artist Ambassador for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), marking a unique collaboration between the two entities. This new role gives Chavarria an elevated stage to advocate passionately for key concerns like LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights.

His dedication to social justice is deeply rooted, as demonstrated by his latest SS26 Paris fashion show on the runway, which openly opposed immigration restrictions and highlighted the deplorable situations in detention centers. As expressed to WWD, “Art, music, and fashion possess immense power to bring awareness and advocate for social justice and human rights. I’m thrilled to continue using my platform to uplift others.

Jonathan Anderson Named Costume Designer For ChatGPT Biopic ‘Artificial’

It has been officially announced that Jonathan Anderson will design the costumes for Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming AI comedy film, titled “Artificial”. This will be their third project together, following “Challengers” and “Queer”, both slated for 2024. The movie is inspired by the story of OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, delving into the debates surrounding Big Tech and the increasing integration of AI in our everyday lives. Anderson’s impressive work on Challengers earned him a nomination for the Costume Designers Guild Award, demonstrating his expertise in cinematic fashion. The film stars Andrew Garfield, Yura Borisov, and Cooper Koch, and is currently undergoing pre-production, with a release date yet to be determined.

Thom Browne Opens New Doors on NYC’s Upper East Side

Thom Browne has unveiled a fresh store on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, specifically at 898 Madison Avenue. This latest retail space is designed to showcase only Thom Browne’s leather accessories and footwear, thereby strengthening the brand’s influence in the neighborhood, positioned conveniently near its flagship store on 72nd Street.

The store has been set up to create a cozy, specialized atmosphere that showcases the brand’s prominent accessories such as the Hector Bag and its animal-inspired offspring, along with traditional baguette bags in various materials. The shop additionally offers Mr. and Mrs. Thom Bags and an array of footwear like classic trainers, distinctive brogues, and wingtip heels, displayed as pieces of art.

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2025-07-25 23:26