Winter is on us and will remain for the next few months, so it’s time to think long-term about your winter wardrobe. Boots are a must-have when the temperatures start dropping, and you want to stay warm.
Ah yes, fashion week – the time when fashion houses go all out with their collections and often break the barriers of traditional fashion. This year at Paris Fashion Week, French haute couture fashion house Schiaparelli made a statement that caught the attention of fashion lovers everywhere with its latest collection featuring a faux taxidermied lion, wolf, and leopard heads hand-crafted into three gowns.
Photo: Irina Shayk at the Schiaparelli Spring 2023 show / ESTROP /GETTY IMAGES
Who are Schiaparelli?
Not everyone has heard of Schiaparelli, so here’s a potted history of this 20th-century fashion house. Elsa Schiaparelli was a fashion designer born to an Italian mother and a French-Italian father in 1890. Elsa moved to Paris in the 1920s and quickly made a name for herself with her bold, creative fashion designs.
Her unique flair caught the attention of several fashion greats, such as Coco Chanel and Jean Cocteau. At the same time, her surrealist collaborations with Salvador Dali led to some iconic pieces that fashion followers fondly remember today.
Animal Heads: Fake or Fiction?
At this year’s Paris fashion week, Schiaparelli presented three dresses featuring life-sized animal heads crafted from faux taxidermy. The lion head featured on one dress is decorated with delicate beading, while another dress features a wolf head with its muzzle made from handmade paper. The leopard head features the most intricate work, with hundreds of crystals hand-sewn onto each piece.
This fashion statement has caused quite a stir among fashion critics and fashion lovers alike. On the one hand, it is an exciting idea – something that we have not seen before in fashion – but on the other hand, there are ethical implications to consider when designing fashion pieces featuring animal heads.
Photo: Naomi Campbell at the Schiaparelli Spring 2023
show / Getty Images
Is Schiaparelli’s Use Of Animal Heads Ethically Wrong?
The ethical question of whether or not Schiaparelli’s use of faux taxidermy animal heads is wrong is complicated. For some people, it could be seen as offensive, exploiting animals for fashion or trivializing the death of an animal by using its likeness in a fashion piece.
However, Schiaparelli intended to create something beautiful, luxurious, and unique – not to exploit animals or degrade their memory. The animal heads used in the designs were meticulously crafted from faux taxidermy materials, such as faux fur, paper, and crystals – not from real animal parts or skins.
The fashion house has also taken extra steps to ensure that these pieces have harmed no animals during their production. All materials used are ethically sourced and made to respect the natural environment.
Conclusion: A Step In The Right Direction?
From this consideration of both sides of the argument, it is clear that Schiaparelli has taken great care to ensure that its fashion pieces are ethically produced.
Whether or not fashion lovers can get past the initial shock of these animal heads and appreciate them for their beauty and artistry remains to be seen – but perhaps this collection could signal a step in the right direction for fashion houses worldwide. With more thought into how fashion pieces are made, fashion can be beautiful and kind to our planet’s creatures.: