BizBash
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
Topics
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • Industry Buzz
  • BizBash Lists
Resources
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe
User Tools
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Get Featured
  • Press Releases
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Subscribe to Magazine
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe
  1. Production & Strategy
  2. Event Production & Fabrication

See Striking Set Designs From Paris and Milan Fashion Shows

The immersive January showcases from Chanel, Dior, and Zegna brought gardens, scaffolding, and musicians to the runway.

Jim Shi
February 3, 2015

By European standards, the recent round of men’s shows in London, Milan, and Paris—not to mention the few days that comprised haute couture in the City of Lights—failed to present the kind of striking productions the fashion industry has come to expect from designers and brands that reside on the other side of the Atlantic. That’s not to say all was lost. As expected, Chanel and Dior led the way with their continued creative streaks at couture. And two men’s shows—Dior Homme and Ermenegildo Zegna—also brought dramatic visuals to the runway. Here’s a look at four January fashion shows that, from a pure production perspective, stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Chanel Couture Spring 2015
Chanel Couture Spring 2015

Inside the luxuriant greenhouse, Karl Lagerfeld delivered his ode to springtime. Guests sat in one large circular formation on tiered rows, flanked on both sides by the faux garden.

Photo: Olivier Saillant
Chanel Couture Spring 2015
Chanel Couture Spring 2015

Guests arriving at the January 27 Chanel haute couture show were met by a gigantic circular white garden installed beneath the dome of the Grand Palais in Paris. Designated entrances were built to help direct traffic flow as guests made their way in. The sub-roof was kept transparent to allow the sun's rays in.

Photo: Olivier Saillant
Chanel Couture Spring 2015
Chanel Couture Spring 2015

It took six months to make the 300 flowers that decorated the Chanel set. Each flower had its own "engine" and burst into full technicolor mechanical bloom after a model at the show's start applied a theatrical "splash" from a CC-branded watering can.

Photo: Olivier Saillant
Dior Couture Spring 2015
Dior Couture Spring 2015

Held at the Musée Rodin venue that designer Raf Simons has utilized for the majority of his Dior shows, the January 26 Dior haute couture show, which had guests enter a stark white box, appeared deceivingly simple. Inside, however, the fully mirrored venue was revealed to be a spiral of glossy white metal scaffolding. Produced by Bureau Betak, the runway was a catwalk that snaked upwards in circles, with guests seated on multiple levels as the models paraded up and down on wall-to-wall soft pink carpeting.

Photo: Courtesy of Dior
Ermenegildo Zegna Fall 2015
Ermenegildo Zegna Fall 2015

Stefano Pilati's January 17 menswear show for Ermenegildo Zegna was held at the CityLife Palace on the Piazza VI Febbraio (the site of Milan's former fairgrounds) in order to accommodate not only a sizable runway set, but to also seat as many as 1,000 guests. Urban Production oversaw the undertaking, which featured nearly two dozen different species of plants, including aucuba, fern, oat grass, medlar trees, and viburnum thymus.

Photo: Courtesy of Ermenegildo Zegna
Ermenegildo Zegna Fall 2015
Ermenegildo Zegna Fall 2015

Massive mounds of earth surrounded a live deciduous forest, with a soundtrack of birdcalls and rolling thunder playing overhead that further accentuated the show's eco slant. The vegetation, inspired by Oasi Zegna, a company-funded reserve in the Biella Alps, will subsequently be replanted in the region's Biella mountains.

Photo: Courtesy of Ermenegildo Zegna
Dior Homme Fall 2015
Dior Homme Fall 2015

For designer Kris Van Assche's fall 2015 Dior Homme show on January 24, the designer shrouded the Tennis Club on the Périphérique in Paris in darkness, with a floor-to-ceiling black curtain guarded by security. As the show commenced, the curtain lifted slowly to reveal an orchestra of more than 30 members lining the full length of the runway. For the theatrical moment, all the musicians, who played a specially commissioned version of Koudlam's "The Landscapes," were clad in Dior Homme—a fitting complement to the show's emphasis on formal evening wear.

Photo: Adrien Dirand
Latest in Event Production & Fabrication
WorldPride D.C. took place May 17-June 8.
Event Production & Fabrication
WorldPride DC: How Event Organizers Created a Safe Space for the LGBTQ+ Community in the Nation's Capital
On May 20 and 22, FX Networks transformed two working laundromats into full-blown parties to celebrate its new series Adults.
Event Production & Fabrication
5 Tips for Producing Events in Real-World Locations
The Recording Academy Honors, presented by the Black Music Collective, were held during Grammys week in 2024. The 1,000-person gala was designed and produced by MVD Inc. and drew immediate attention with a multientry intersectional LED tunnel. See more: Grammys 2024: 40+ Trend-Setting Event Ideas From the Week's Star-Packed Parties
Event Production & Fabrication
20 Bold Event Entrances That Made a Lasting Impression
This year, Ultra Music Festival in Miami partnered with its longtime exclusive energy drink sponsor, Red Bull, and Brightline to curate an immersive three-brand experiential activation that merged the music, beverage, and transportation spaces.
Event Production & Fabrication
5 Music Event Trends Making Noise in 2025
Related Stories
Ss 2015 Rtw Final Picture By Olivier Saillant 003
Event Design & Decor
Scenes From Paris Fashion Week: Chanel's Protest, Kenzo's Avatar, and More
A discreet entrance to the official SAG awards after-party hosted by People magazine was designed to recall the days of private speakeasies (although no password was required for party access).
Event Production & Fabrication
See the Prohibition-Inspired SAG Awards Party
Surface Grooves debuted a new custom-fabricated, laser-cut centerpiece for the 21st Living Landmarks Celebration, which takes place November 6 at the Plaza. The lighted decor item features a reusable base and removable panels that can be switched out for each event.
Event Production & Fabrication
custom decor
The greenhouse-like structure for Want Les Essentiels de la Vie sat outside Florence, Italy's Fortezza da Basso, where men's show Pitti Uomo took place January 13 to 16.
Event Production & Fabrication
Why One Brand Built a Greenhouse Instead of a Trade Show Booth
More in Event Production & Fabrication
Event Production & Fabrication
WorldPride DC: How Event Organizers Created a Safe Space for the LGBTQ+ Community in the Nation's Capital
The massive celebration was a challenge for many reasons, but the global Pride event was still authentically D.C. Hear from organizers at Destination DC and Capital Pride Alliance.
WorldPride D.C. took place May 17-June 8.
Event Production & Fabrication
5 Tips for Producing Events in Real-World Locations
From FX’s laundromat party to OGX’s branded car wash, here’s how event pros are turning unexpected locations into unforgettable experiences.
On May 20 and 22, FX Networks transformed two working laundromats into full-blown parties to celebrate its new series Adults.
Event Production & Fabrication
20 Bold Event Entrances That Made a Lasting Impression
From eye-catching branded archways to immersive tunnels, these creative entry moments from brands like Adidas, Netflix, and Coca-Cola hooked attendees from the very first step.
The Recording Academy Honors, presented by the Black Music Collective, were held during Grammys week in 2024. The 1,000-person gala was designed and produced by MVD Inc. and drew immediate attention with a multientry intersectional LED tunnel. See more: Grammys 2024: 40+ Trend-Setting Event Ideas From the Week's Star-Packed Parties
Event Production & Fabrication
5 Music Event Trends Making Noise in 2025
From sustainability themes to unique experiential activations to unlikely music venues, we’ve noticed a few standout trends at music events worthy of an encore.
This year, Ultra Music Festival in Miami partnered with its longtime exclusive energy drink sponsor, Red Bull, and Brightline to curate an immersive three-brand experiential activation that merged the music, beverage, and transportation spaces.
Event Production & Fabrication
How This Star-Studded Foodie Event Made a Satiable Splash at Sea
BizBash boarded the second sailing of Chefs Making Waves for an up-close taste of this unique floating fiesta. Learn about the plans and partners that made it a recipe for at-sea success.
Chefs Making Waves set sail from the Port of Miami on Monday, May 5. The second installment, produced by Sixthman, in partnership with A21 and EBG, brought more than 2,000 food-and-drink-loving cruisers to enjoy more than 75 onboard activities featuring 13 celebrity chefs, along with additional spirits and wine partners, wellness programming, and musical acts to round out the four-night at-sea soiree.
Event Production & Fabrication
Call for Entries: 13th Annual BizBash Event Experience Awards Are Open
It's a special year for the awards, as BizBash introduces new categories celebrating its 25th anniversary. Get your submissions in by October 3, 2025.
Eea13th Submissions Open 700x467 Article Hero
Most Popular
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Cannes Lions 2025: 90+ Bold Builds and Big Ideas From the French Festival of Creativity
Brands & Event Pros
Industry Innovators 2025: Sephora
Brands & Event Pros
Industry Innovators 2025: 10 Brands That Took Experiential Marketing to a Whole New Level
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
50 Cool Event Ideas You May Have Missed From Liquid I.V., Martha Stewart, Foot Locker, and More
Innovators
Industry Innovators 2025: Netflix
Brands & Event Pros
Industry Innovators 2025: Chase
Event Production & Fabrication
Robin Hood's 2025 Benefit Gala Had the Home Field Advantage—How a Sports Theme Helped Raise $72 Million
The event delivered its most immersive night yet, transforming the Javits Center into an arena of impact.
Michael Strahan kicked off programming at the 2025 Robin Hood Benefit Gala on May 12.
Brands & Event Pros
Meet the 2025 BizBash 40 Under 40
BizBash highlights impressive industry leaders who have made an early mark on the meeting and event industry—before even celebrating their 40th birthday.
Bb40u40 2025 Meet The Winners 880x496 Article Header
Event Production & Fabrication
Secrets, Spirits, and Surprises: Inside Monkey 47’s Mysterious Event Tour
Monkey 47 cloaked an educational experience about the gin brand’s roots as a series of mysterious events that surprised and delighted guests from the moment they received the invite. Here’s how.
Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin embarked on a three-city experiential tour across the U.S. that immersed spirits industry trade professionals in it brand DNA.
Event Production & Fabrication
See Inside the 'Most Sustainable Large-Scale Music Festival on the Planet'
Rock the Ocean's Tortuga Music Festival, in partnership with Sunbelt Rentals, sets the bar for sustainability in large-scale events, blending top musical acts with energy-efficient rentals and impactful environmental advocacy.
In addition to big-name headliners Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, and Luke Combs, a standout moment of this year's event—held April 4-6—was the Conservation Village Powered by Sunbelt, which featured interactive exhibits highlighting marine conservation efforts and everyday ways fans can protect ocean ecosystems.
Brands & Event Pros
Industry Innovators 2025: 11 Planners, Designers & Producers Who Are Defining the Next Era of Events
This creative crew is using standout designs, smart engagement strategies, and flawless execution to move the event industry forward.
2025 Industry Innovators Article Image Planners Designers Producers
Event Production & Fabrication
How to Launch a New Event Agency in Decadence and Style
Ashley Woody hosted industry professionals for "A Night of Revelry" in honor of her new boutique event agency, Maison Madera. See all the surreal details—and read her tips for throwing a successful launch event.
To celebrate the launch of her new boutique event agency, Ashley Woody recently hosted 'A Night of Revelry' for professionals in entertainment, hospitality, and fashion at her Los Angeles studio.
Page 1 of 120
Next Page
BizBash
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  1. Privacy Policy
  2. CCPA: Do Not Sell My Personal Info
  3. Contact Us
  4. Site Map
© 2025 Connect Biz, LLC. All rights reserved.