BY: AFRAH HUSSAIN
Photography by Maha Studios
Virtual Fashion Shows
There is no doubt that our reality today is mostly spent indoors, limited time outdoors, and not to mention….no mask breaks. Our new normal has pushed our creative abilities to another level. Within the fashion realm, fashion shows are not canceled or postponed this year. They are very much so happening but virtually. We have heard of virtual conferences but a virtual fashion show? Our curiosity led us to an expedition of learning more about this. Here are our X takeaways in hosting a virtual fashion show.
5 Takeaways:
1. Invest in a virtual platform
Think of the event as a big, virtual conference call. You’ll need a platform, such as Zoom, to broadcast your event. Our recommendation is to make sure your membership plan with the platform has the desired attendance capacity of your guests. The goal is to utilize a platform where screens can be shared and participants can communicate with one another. Even doing a trial run a couple of days prior to the event with your planning committee will keep the nerves low and ensure a successful event.
2. Pre-record the runway
Quality guaranteed. Conducting a live virtual fashion show could be tricky because the quality of the outfits, accessories, etc. can look skewed/ blurry on a computer screen. Designers invest a lot of energy, hard work, creativity, and passion into creating their collections and they deserve the spotlight to be seen. Hence, we learned that a viable option is to record the whole fashion show beforehand into a 50 to 90 min video, almost like a movie. Then play that movie on your virtual platform. The quality will be there thus promoting your and the designers’ brand awareness.
Personalized vision. During an in-person fashion show, the general format is done by announcing the designer and then showcasing the collection. The same could be done for the recorded video by editing the designers’ names before their collection. Another idea is to organize the runway by themes like Street Smart, Night in Paris, Everyday Wear, etc. The sky is the limit!
Convenience. An added bonus is that you don’t need an actual venue for a runway, it could even be filmed anywhere outdoors/ indoors. Bouncing off ideas with your videography team is key here.
3. Auctions
Live and silent auctions are eye-catchers at any fashion show. It is another opportunity for an artist or business to showcase their talents. A pandemic alternative is to upload a gallery of pictures (with details) of the items onto your event page about a week before the event. By doing so, guests will have a chance to have a look beforehand so that they’re not side tracked on the day of the show.
4. Project Management tools
Changes are happening constantly around us. Along with the many moving parts in organizing a fashion, it is important to stay on top of things like customer management and vendor communications. There are a plethora of project management tools available, choose one that works best with your team. It could even be an excel sheet with multiple tabs. Always remember, teamwork makes dreams work.
5. Building a green future
Lastly, a virtual fashion show has an environmental impact as well. Apart from slowing the spread of covid-19, it is also helping in creating a sustainable environment. The amount of waste, paper, and plastic used, fuel consumption is being saved. You can still watch a great show from the comfort of your own home.
