The power of Paris, the fashion capital of the world- piloted by Balmain, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent and Maison Chateau Rouge, just to name a few.

Olivier Rousteing became the creative director of Balmain in 2011, at just 25 years old. He was the youngest creative director in Paris and the first Black designer to lead a luxury fashion house.

Rousteing successfully revolutionised Parisian fashion by prioritising inclusivity, he cast Rihanna in her first luxury fashion campaign in 2013 and, a year later, Kim Kardashian with Kanye West.

Kanye West - Wolves for Balmain

In 2019 Rousteing released his documentary Wonder Boy, a personal journey to discover his birth mother and Egyptian origins. In one of the scenes, he discovers that his mother was 14 when she gave birth to him. The documentary pulls the viewer into Rousteing’s world behind the glamour of Balmain.

The Wonder Boy trailer by Balmain

Most recently, musician and fashion entrepreneur Pharrell Williams was named creative director of Louis Vuitton. The role was previously held by Off-White’s Virgil Abloh who passed in November 2021.

From Billionaire Boys Club to Humanrace, Pharrell Williams has built globally recognised clothing and lifestyle brands. The fashion world waits in anticipation of his first Louis Vuitton collection set to be released later this month at the Paris Fashion Week.

Though Paris is known to produce the world’s most notable high fashion labels, Parisian streetwear brands such as Ami, A.P.C and Maison Chateau Rouge are also competing for global recognition.

Ami has recently collaborated with Puma for a second season of athluxury. The collaboration continues to explore the relationship between casual and chic, utilising elevated and recycled materials. The collection is inherently functional, made from pieces of the previous collaboration.

Morgan Lake for Ami x Puma photographed by Zak Skinner

Maison Chateau Rouge was created by Youssouf Fofana, named after the predominantly African neighbourhood Chateau Rouge in Paris. Maison Chateau Rouge is about social initiative and Fofana’s Senegalese heritage, most high-end labels would be housed in Le Marais- Maison Chateau Rouge stays true to it’s name and is based in the heart of Chateau Rouge.

Recently, Maison Chateau Rouge and Nike Air Jordan collaborated on a collection.

*Cooper Teare* *in Nike Air Jordan x Maison Chateau Rouge brown leather jacket*

At the Paris Diamond League Noah Lyles made an entrance in Yves Saint Laurent crystal-embroidered bomber jacket, paired with a mariner-link chain, a cuban-link chain and Omega watch.

Marcell Jacobs wore a Prada matching shirt and pants, the Louis Vuitton comic monogram messenger bag, Palomo Spain x Puma sneakers and a custom made limited edition Purnell x Marcell Jacobs watch. The 48MM 18k white gold watch can only be purchased through enquiry and only 9 watches have been made in the world.