This archive report was first published on 5 July 2019.
On the final day of the Paris shows, Pierpaolo Piccioli, creative director of Valentino, made a bold statement with his collection, dedicating it to diversity of the most personal kind.
Speaking backstage before the show, Piccioli said, "Last season I was really focused on inclusivity in couture, but couture is essentially about the one of a kind, which is about individuality; about every woman as fully, resplendently herself."
This season, he decided to celebrate difference: of skin color, age, roots, and silhouette. Each of the 71 looks was named after the actual people who made it.
The collection featured a range of models, including Lauren Hutton, Gigi Hadid, Georgina Grenville, and Adut Akech, each showcasing a unique look that reflected the diversity of the people who created it.
From slithers of tulle smothered in metallic pearls to simple wool tunics and trousers paired with flowing velvet and satin capes, the collection was a celebration of individuality and diversity.
At the end of the show, Piccioli pulled his entire workroom out with him for a bow on the runway, and they all went over to hug and kiss Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti, the brand's founders who were watching from the front row.
"It's my fantasy of a world where we can all live together," Piccioli said backstage, referring to his mood board and his work.
While it may be hard to imagine in reality, the result was gorgeous to look at, and Piccioli makes a strong case for the virtues of trying.
