The creator recounts the story of avant-garde designer Carol Christian Poell's 2003 fashion show, explaining how he used Milan's polluted Naviglio Grande canal as a runway. The narrator describes the scene of models floating down the canal, details the lack of a traditional setup, and interprets the show as a poetic statement on consumption, abandonment, and the life cycle of trends.
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@somewhere.fashion : In 2003, avant-garde designer Carol Christian Poell transformed Milan’s Naviglio Grande canal into one of fashion’s most memorable runway presentations.
For the C.C.P. SS2004 show, guests were invited to stand along the canal with no runway, no seats and no stage. Instead, 17 models drifted through the water on inflatable floats, eyes closed, surrounded by garments carried away by the current.
More than a fashion show, the presentation explored ideas of consumption, abandonment and the life cycle of clothing. Some of the garments continued their journey even after the show had ended, reportedly still drying in the showroom the following day.
For Poell, the story of a garment extended far beyond its construction. The journey, context and wear were just as important as the finished piece itself.
What do you think: visionary performance or fashion’s strangest runway?
Credits : @carolchristianpoell_archives
Via @713mag research/article -> https://sevenonethreemag.com/2024/12/09/mainstream-downstream/
Transcript
Is this the creepiest fashion show ever created? In 2003, avant garde designer, Carol Christian Poeell, transformed Milan's polluted Naviglio Grande Canal into one of fashion's worst haunting runway presentations. No catwalk, no music, no front tier. Guests stood silently along the water, unsure of what they were even waiting for, until bodies suddenly began floating down the canal. 17 models drifted through the dirty water on inflatable floats, eyes closed, surrounded by loose garments carried away by the current. What looked almost disturbing felt strangely poetic at the same time. More than a fashion show, it was a statement on consumption, abandonment, and the endless cycle of trends. Even after the presentation ended, some of the garments were reportedly still drying in the showroom the next day. For Poeell, the life of a garment didn't begin or end on the runway. The journey itself was part of the design.
