Paris Fashion Week is known as a time to debut trends, but this year it's also a reaction stage for recent crises and issues of censorship involving the city itself.
Belgian fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck debuted his menswear collected, "Explicit Beauty," on Wednesday. In it, Van Beirendonck styled politically minded clothing with an unusual accessory: butt plugs.
His first model opened the show in a clear plastic tank top, which displayed the phrase, "Stop Terrorising Our World." The message was in response to the Charlie Hebdo and Paris grocery store terrorist attacks from early January, which resulted in 17 total deaths.
The rest of Van Beirendonck's show consisted of brightly colored butt plug and eagle accessories, in what the designer called a homage to American artist Paul McCarthy's short-lived green inflatable sculpture, entitled "Tree" from last fall. The 24-foot tall sculpture was erected in the same Place Vendôme as the fashion show and met controversy upon installation for its sex toy resemblance. Other than protests from right-wing groups, the artist was physically attacked for the provocative appearance of his art. Within days after its placement, the sculpture was vandalized to the extent of being destroyed and deflated sometime during the night.
Van Beirendonck's runway is a reaction to that censorship and the questions of censorship surrounding Charlie Hebdo's controversial cartoons. He is known for strong graphics, which he often uses to communicate social or political statements, for example safe sex advocacy.
"Initially I didn't want to make statements. But when you see what is happening in the world you have to react," he told Expatica.
The air is still settling in Paris as people show up to Fashion Week, and Van Bierendonck calls on his fashion show "exhortations" for the freedom of expression.