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Runway mishaps — whether a slippery stage taking down models, unexpected wardrobe malfunctions or sign-wielding catwalk crashers — are a rite of passage. Remember Gisele Bündchen looking unfazed as a PETA protester waved a “Gisele Fur Scum” sign on the Victoria’s Secret runway? Or when a French YouTuber crashed a Chanel runway before Gigi Hadid escorted her off the stage mid-show?
Though hardly a new phenomenon, runway crashers were especially busy this season, successfully infiltrating the Coach, Burberry, Gucci and Hermès Spring 2024 runways. Starting off at one of New York Fashion Week’s biggest shows, a duo of crashers interrupted Coach with one protester holding a “Coach: Leather Kills” sign and the other in full body paint mirroring the exposed muscles of a skinned animal conveying the same message.
Days later, off the runway, a PETA supporter attended a VIP meet-and-greet event after the Michael Kors show and wielded a sign calling the use of angora — fabric made from an angora rabbit’s hair — torture. (Back in 2017, Michael Kors announced that the brand would no longer use fur by the end of 2018.)
The fashion crowd, and the PETA protesters, then headed to Europe. Crashers at Burberry and Gucci, also both PETA activists, held up similar signs: “Burberry: Animals Are Not Clothing” and “Gucci: Ban Exotic Skins.” For PETA’s final fashion month stunt, one of its activists crashed the Hermès runway in Paris, but this time fashion influencer Bryan Yambao (@bryanboy) snatched the protester’s sign mid-walk. A second Paris Fashion Week incident was narrowly avoided: Outside of Louis Vuitton’s runway show in Paris on Oct. 2, French YouTuber Jeremstar was arrested and carried away by police for protesting against the use of exotic skins.
This season’s rise in runway crashers has led many inside the fashion industry (and those keeping up with the viral moments on social media) to ask: How are they getting into these exclusive shows?
In an interview with GQ fashion writer Samuel Hine, PETA’s Director of Outreach Communication Ashley Byrne wouldn’t divulge how the group snuck into the invite-only events, but she revealed that the organization intentionally increased runway crashes in a push to advocate against the use of leather and angora now that fur has largely been expelled from the fashion industry.
Last week, fashion editor Louis Pisano tweeted a screenshot from a Close Friends Instagram story allegedly selling seats to the most exclusive fashion shows. Is this rumored lucrative side business how PETA gains access to the high-profile shows?
The New York Times reported that, in order to pull off the Hermès catwalk crash, PETA campaigner Teodora Zglimbea surveyed the brand’s runway location (the Garde Républicaine) the day before the show; the day of, she was “wearing a wristband given to production staff members who require backstage access,” per writer Jessica Testa. Zglimbea told Testa that Claudia, the PETA volunteer who actually crashed the runway, was taken to a police station for questioning, but was not arrested or charged for the disturbance.
As we continue to ponder how crashers got in, take a look back at all the season’s runway crashers, below.
Coach
On Sept. 7, Coach held its Spring 2024 show at the New York Public Library and two PETA activists crashed the runway – one with a sign reading “Coach: Leather Kills” and the other in full body paint.
@officialpeta ⚠️ PETA is taking over the runway at #NYFW ⚠️ It’s time to STOP selling someone else’s skin and drop leather, @Coach!
Michael Kors
During a VIP meet and greet event after Michael Kors’ Spring 2024 runway show on Sept. 11, a PETA protester interrupted the event with a sign reading, “Michael Kors: Angora Is Torture!”
@officialpeta ⚠️ Crashed ⚠️ PETA activists confronted @Michael Kors after his #NYFW show to urge him to stop the unimaginable suffering of rabbits and goats who have their hair repeatedly ripped from their bodies while they’re alive for angora and cashmere.
Burberry
A PETA protester crashed Burberry’s Spring 2024 runway during London Fashion Week on Sept. 18 with a sign reading “Burberry: Animals Are Not Clothing.”
@thecut Her walk kind of served! A PETA protestor crashed the Burberry catwalk at London Fashion Week #lfw #tiktokfashion #burberry
Gucci
In Milan, a PETA activist crashed the Gucci runway on Sept. 22 with a “Gucci: Ban Exotic Skins” sign before being escorted off the catwalk.
@officialpeta BREAKING: a @PETA activist just stomped @Gucci’s #MilanFashionWeek runway & it’s giving 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘴.
Hermès
A PETA protester crashed the Hermès runway during Paris Fashion Week on Sept. 30 wielding a sign reading “Hermès: Drop Exotic Skins” before it was taken by fashion influencer Bryan Yambao.
@leoniehanne Bryan just stopped the protest at the Hermés show in Paris… @Bryanboy pfw bryanboy
Louis Vuitton (Almost)
French YouTuber Jeremstar was arrested while protesting for PETA outside of Louis Vuitton’s show in Paris on Oct. 2.
Jeremstar vient de se faire menotter et arrêter alors qu'il protestait devant le défilé Louis Vuitton à Paris contre les peaux exotiques. 🐊 @LouisVuitton a du sang sur les mains. @jeremstar #ParisFashionWeek2023 #PFW pic.twitter.com/JdzmZtA4zo
— PETA France (@PETA_France) October 2, 2023
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