Straight to the point
Fashion is much more than designer labels and models walking down runways. It’s a form of self-expression. It’s a creative outlet and a booming economic sector.
We couldn’t possibly write an article about all of the world’s fashion events – for that, we’d need to write a book, or maybe even an encyclopedia! So, instead, we decided to highlight 11 of the world’s biggest and most influential fashion events.
Let’s get into it!
The Big Four
The Big Four fashion weeks take place in the fashion capitals of the world: New York, London, Milan, and Paris. They’re considered the most prominent fashion shows and collectively make up fashion month. Because of their significance, they also receive the most media attention. As a result, these fashion weeks play an outsized role in setting the stage for the global fashion industry.
The Big Four fashion weeks occur semi-annually with Spring/Summer shows taking place in September and October, and Fall/Winter shows taking place in February and March.
New York Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week kicks off fashion month with a bold mix of innovation, pop culture, and streetwear. It’s where iconic American designers like Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, and Tom Ford showcase their collections alongside emerging trends in inclusivity and sustainability.
New York Fashion Week is known for its fast-paced energy, edgy designs, and strong ties to pop culture. It sets the tone for what’s next in fashion.
London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week is where creativity has no limits. SinceLondon is home to some of the world’s top fashion colleges and universities, London Fashion Week is known for featuring new and up-and-coming talents in the fashion industry. In fact, it’s where brands like Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, and Jonathan Anderson got their start.
With its emphasis on experimentation and innovation, London Fashion Week leads the charge in pushing the boundaries in the industry. From designs that challenge gender norms, to embracing livestreaming, London Fashion Week is like no other.
Milan Fashion Week
Elegance, luxury, and craftsmanship. That’s Milan Fashion Week in a nutshell. Home to legendary brands like Gucci, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, and Versace, Milan celebrates Italian fashion at its finest.
Every show feels like a masterclass in style. It’s not about the trends, but the details—the tailoring, the fabrics, the finishing touches. Milan is all about refinement and tradition. Yet, it still manages to keep things fresh and exciting with bold designs and theatrical presentations.
Paris Fashion Week
Paris is the fashion capital of the world. As such, it’s only fitting that Paris Fashion Week is the grand finale of fashion month. Known for haute couture as well as menswear and womenswear, Paris Fashion Week features French fashion labels like Chanel, Dior, Saint Laurent, Hermès, and Balenciaga. It’s also the most international of the Big Four fashion weeks, with 50% of the brands shown not being French.
Blending old-world elegance with cutting-edge innovation, Paris Fashion Week sets the bar for the fashion world.
Additional Fashion Weeks
The Big Four fashion weeks may be the most well-known, but there are countless other fashion weeks that take place around the world. Here are some of the most prominent:
Tokyo Fashion Week
Tokyo Fashion Week is the leading fashion event in Asia. It’s known for its cutting-edge street style and avant-garde designs, reflecting the city’s unique blend of tradition and modernity. Japanese designers push the boundaries with bold, experimental collections, often incorporating futuristic elements.
The event attracts a mix of global influencers and showcases the best of Japan’s fashion scene, with brands like Issey Miyake and Comme des Garçons leading the way.
Copenhagen Fashion Week
Copenhagen Fashion Week is the leader in sustainable fashion. It recently introduced sustainability requirements across six areas that showcasing brands must comply with. These requirements include items such as using sustainable materials in collections, implementing circular design principles, and having processes in place so as to not destroy unsold clothing or samples from previous collections.
The event showcases minimalist, functional designs with a focus on eco-friendly practices, reflecting Denmark’s strong environmental ethos. Known for its effortless yet stylish aesthetic, Copenhagen highlights both established brands like Ganni and emerging designers. It’s a must-watch for those who value sustainability and timeless, practical fashion.
Berlin Fashion Week
Like Copenhagen Fashion Week, Berlin Fashion Week stands out for its focus on sustainability and innovation. Accordingly, it has helped establish Berlin as the fashion capital of sustainability, offering a platform for emerging designers with eco-conscious values.
Known for its alternative and edgy aesthetic, the event features a mix of urban streetwear and avant-garde fashion. Berlin embraces diversity and is a hub for creativity, making it a key event for those seeking bold, independent fashion.
São Paulo Fashion Week
São Paulo Fashion Week is the most iconic event in Brazilian fashion and one of the most important in Latin America. It has transformed São Paulo into a global fashion hub, drawing attention to the talent of Brazilian designers and the latest trends in the market.
São Paulo fashion week isn’t just about fashion shows. It also serves as a platform for discussions on sustainability, diversity, and inclusion in fashion. Major brands and established designers present their collections, while new talents have the opportunity to stand out on the international stage. The event not only launches new Latin American trends, but also highlights Brazil’s creative and commercial potential.
Other Fashion Events
Fashion events aren’t limited to fashion weeks. Here are some of the most celebrated fashion events around the world that don’t consist of runway shows:
Met Gala
Held annually as a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in Manhattan, the Met Gala is an haute couture fashion event like no other. In fact, it is considered by many to be the world’s most important and glamorous fashion event.
Every year the event celebrates a specific theme. Attendees, who make a contribution of $75,000 per seat, embrace high fashion and creativity with outfits in accordance with the year’s themes. With designers, celebrities, and influencers alike walking the extravagant red carpet, their iconic looks often go viral.
Cannes Film Festival
Held in the South of France, the Cannes Film Festival is a glamorous celebration of cinema that doubles as a major fashion event. Global stars showcase haute couture from luxury fashion houses as they strut the festival’s red carpet.
While it is a film festival first and foremost, the Cannes Film Festival has become known for its elegant and opulent looks. As a result, it is now considered one the most stylish fashion events on the international calendar.
Pitti Uomo
For men’s fashion, Pitti Uomo, held in Florence, Italy, is by far the most important fashion event in the world. Known for showcasing high-end tailoring, craftsmanship, and emerging trends in menswear, the event attracts fashion-forward individuals and brands from around the globe.
London and New York Fashion E-Commerce Summits
Fashion isn’t just about luxury brands, red carpets, and haute couture. The fashion weeks and events we’ve mentioned above, while extremely important in the fashion world, can be unrelatable for the masses.
The London and New York Fashion E-Commerce Summits are one-day conferences that bring together top fashion e-commerce experts, decision-makers, and brands. They are important networking events for people in the fashion e-commerce space, with panels and discussions surrounding relevant topics like influencers, AR and virtual try-ons, and diversity and inclusion.
Global Fashion Events
Global fashion events not only reflect the diversity and creativity of the industry, but also drive economic and cultural development worldwide. The events listed in this article are in no way a comprehensive list of the world’s fashion events but rather some of the most influential events in the fashion industry. They’re the events that launch new trends and set the internet ablaze.
If you’d like to read more about the fashion industry, make sure to check out our article about how algorithms influence fashion.
