Paris Haute Couture Week: a July line-up of stalwarts and international daring feat Manish Malhotra

The summer session of Haute Couture Week continues to gather momentum. Coordinated by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), the event will showcase the work of 30 houses over four days, from July 6 to 9. Last winter, 28 were listed on the official calendar- an increase that attests to the French capital’s enduring allure for exceptional craftsmanship.

The week’s highlights are, as ever, anchored by the great historic houses and headline names. On the opening day, Monday July 6, Schiaparelli will kick off proceedings at 10:00 am, before Christian Dior takes its customary afternoon slot at 2:30 pm. The following day, Tuesday July 7, Chanel will open the morning with two events at 10:00 am and 12:00 pm, while Giorgio Armani Privé rounds off the day with back-to-back shows at 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Wednesday July 8 also promises a packed schedule, with Balenciaga at 11:30 am, followed by Elie Saab at 2:30 pm, and Jean Paul Gaultier at 5:30 pm.

Beyond these institutional pillars, this edition will introduce new faces invited to Paris for the first time. Among them is Indian couturier Manish Malhotra, who will present his collection on Wednesday July 8 at 8:00 pm. Celebrated for his opulent designs for the elite and major Bollywood productions, he brings to Paris his mastery of intricate embroidery and majestic silhouettes, marrying traditional Indian craftsmanship with contemporary luxury. Another notable arrival is Standing Ground, the label founded by Irish designer Michael Stewart, whose presentation is set for Monday July 6 at 6:30 pm. Known for his sculptural, pared-back approach to eveningwear, he has distinguished himself with column gowns and sophisticated draping. This summer session also welcomes Iris van Herpen on Monday July 6 at 12:00 pm to unveil her technological experiments, followed later that day at 8:00 pm by the house of ArdAzAei. On Wednesday July 8, Pier Paolo Piccioli for Balenciaga and Duran Lantink for Jean Paul Gaultier will present their couture work. For her part, designer Adeline André will showcase her vision of purity on Thursday July 9 at 4:00 pm.

Shifts in the calendar and notable absences

Among the absentees is, logically, Giambattista Valli, who has just resumed direct control of his brand. Valentino, which showed its couture in Paris at the start of the year before presenting its womenswear in Rome in March, will not return to Paris in July. Julien Fournié, Gaurav Gupta, Miss Sohee, and Phan Huy, who made their mark in January, are also absent this season. Finally, Fendi, under Kim Jones, is pursuing an off-site strategy, choosing to unveil its haute couture collection directly in Rome, at an exclusive show scheduled for the evening of Thursday July 9.

As the Federation notes in its press release, this schedule remains provisional and is open to possible adjustments before the first models take to the catwalk.